Sunday 26 February 2012

Salad greens for summer

 I recently came across the 52 Week Salad Challenge, and since my aim when I started the potager was to keep it stocked with edibles all through the year, I decided to join in. I'm not a huge salad eater but I do love having fresh crunchy lettuce in my sandwich each day. Also, if the veges are just sitting there in the garden waiting to be eaten, I'm more likely to try and find something to do with them - particularly if there is feta cheese in the fridge!

 My potager has four quarter-circle beds in the middle, and these tend to be my salad beds. Each one has an upright rosemary in the middle and is edged with chives and carrots, with any other gaps filled with spring onions and lettuces (Freckles and Red Flame). The lettuces are growing well, it's been a cool summer which they seem to have enjoyed, although it did take them a while to get up to size. I've got a few spring onions left but the seeds I sowed a couple of months ago have been very slow to grow.

While I was waiting for the lettuces to fill out I sowed a row of rocket which has been true to its name. I'm not in the school of people who find rocket peppery, it's more... nutty? Earthy? Either way, I love the depth of flavour it brings to a humble pile of green leaves!

My favourite summer salad:
Mixed greens torn into bite size pieces, including Freckles lettuce, Red Flame lettuce, rocket, and basil
Sliced spring onions
Quartered cherry tomatoes
Finely chopped red chilli (flesh only, no mouth-blistering seeds for me thanks)
Crumbled feta cheese

Dressing:
Juice of a lemon
Slosh of oil
Salt, pepper and about half a teaspoon of honey
1-2 tablespoons plain yoghurt
Whisk together till combined.

If you want to join the 52 Week Salad Challenge, see this post for more info.

10 comments:

  1. Oh for Summer salad time...from the garden of course!

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  2. Hi - thanks for joining in with the salad challenge :)

    I've been meaning to try 'Freckles' lettuce for a while and seeing it on here means I must seek it out straight away. In 6 months time we'll be needing to sort out our sowings to tide us over the winter, so it'll be great to look at what you'll be doing soon and learn from that!

    Interesting use of chilli in your salad - my husband's asking for ideas to make them less boring and you've just provided a solution.

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    Replies
    1. I like Freckles for summer, it seems to stand the heat quite well and has a good flavour.

      Last year I had a glut of chillies and spent several evenings doing a big chop-up - wearing gloves and working in a well ventilated kitchen of course! Then the chopped chillies went in the freezer and I've been using them ever since.

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  3. Beautiful garden!
    I'm hoping my garden will look that good when it is summer here.
    I've managed to keep onions and carrots growing through the winter (it has been mild). Have a blessed day!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie
    Mississippi, USA

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    Replies
    1. Wow, carrots and onions in winter is impressive. Not long to go till you can start planning your summer garden!

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  4. Just beautiful...love how you mixed all the greens in the bed..a true potager, plants, herbs and vegetables...very pretty! robbie p.s. we had snow the other day...eager for spring:-) robbie

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I love the look of mixed plantings, plus it makes it easier come harvest time! I don't envy you the snow... hope you get some warmer temps soon!

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  5. We are at the end of winter here and the lettuce will be planted...soon.

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  6. Yay! It's great when you can start that countdown :)

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