![Planting Bonnie Plants leaf lettuce into the soil of an indoor salad garden.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0603/4892/4151/files/2020saladgardenjpg-2.jpg)
Delicious, delectable, garden-fresh salad—it's the perfect pick-me-up on grey winter days. But when temperatures plummet, or if growing outdoors isn't an option, why rely on grocery store lettuce when it's so easy to grow an indoor salad garden?
With just a little planning and some helpful tips, garden-to-table takes on a whole new meaning, because you or your family can grow, harvest, and enjoy your salad right on (or near) your kitchen table. Let's get this tasty, plant-powered project started!
What You'll Need
- A naturally well-lit area (or grow lights) with a consistent temperature
- One large container to share (go for at least 14 inches wide) with drainage holes
- Leaf lettuce Bonnie Plants: Buttercrunch lettuce and red leaf lettuce
- Bonnie Plants flat Italian parsley
- Lightweight soil like Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix
- Nutrient-rich fertilizer like Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food
- Sharp scissors
Plant Your Indoor Salad Garden
Once you've selected your site, container, plants, and soil, it's time to create your indoor salad garden. Just follow these step-by-step tips:
- Cover your space with newspapers or an old sheet for easy clean-up.
- Fill your container about one-third full with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix.
- Think about how you want your indoor salad garden to look. Try alternating lettuce varieties and colors, and place your parsley in the center or back of the container, as it will grow a bit taller than the lettuce.
- Remove the Bonnie Plants from their pots carefully, gently loosening the root balls if necessary.
- Place the plants in a pattern you like, spacing them 6 inches apart so they have room to grow.
- Add more potting soil to the container to cover the rootballs of the plants, and press the soil into place to remove air pockets. Make sure to leave at least 1 inch of space between the soil and top of the container to prevent overflow when watering.
- Water well when the top inch of soil is dry.
- Place your indoor salad garden in the chosen space, with a saucer or tray underneath the container. Add a light source, if necessary.
- A month after planting, begin using Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food each week (follow the label directions)
- Keep an eye out for pests and remove them if you spot any invaders.
Enjoy the Fresh Harvest
The best part of growing an indoor salad garden is enjoying the harvest, of course! Leaf lettuce and parsley can be picked at any stage, from baby greens to mature leaves, and both offer the benefit of a continuous "cut-and-come-again" harvest. Snip the outer leaves and allow the plants to continue growing to produce more leaves for future recipes.
So, whether you're gardening indoors to beat the cold or you prefer growing inside year-round, you'll love a project that produces homegrown goodness you can share with your family. Nutritious greens that feed your loved ones is a win, anytime!