How To Grow Salad Leaves On The Windowsill

Save money and grow nutririous salad leaves in even the smallest space

If you have a warm, sunny windowsill growing salad leaves makes sense for the budget conscious amongst us, as they cost a fortune in the supermarket for just a small packet. Growing your own means you pick just the amount you need and not leave half a packet festering at the bottom of the fridge. There are enough varieties available to satisfy most tastes.

 We’ve chosen ‘Speedy mix’ which will be ready to eat in 25 days. If you sow some every week you will have leaves continuously throughout the summer.

You will need:

• seed trays
• seed compost
• seed
• something which holds water to stand the tray or pots in
• sieve
• labels

Fill the trays with John Innes Seed Compost, tap the tray on the bench to level the compost.

Sprinkle the seed thinly on the surface and cover with a thin layer of sieved compost.

Place in the tray of water for 15 - 20 minutes until damp, label.

Place on a warm sunny windowsill or in a heated greenhouse.

Keep the compost damp but not sodden.

Cut the leaves as soon as they are ready.