Growing salad

I've been wanting to make a  start sowing vegetable seeds recently, but I know that it's too early to start doing that here in East Lancashire. Especially as I don't have a heated greenhouse, or even any greenhouse for that matter.

So when I came across the 52 Week Salad Challenge I felt inspired to have a go at growing some early salad leaves. I'm a bit late getting into this challenge as I only started last week.  I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up with the challenge all year, but I'm finding it really helpful so far reading all the different posts and getting ideas on what I can grow so early in the year on a warm windowsill indoors. I especially like Fennel and Fern , Carl Legge   and Veg plotting  for really useful information and growing tips.

I started by looking through my collection of seeds and found plenty of lettuce and salad leaves, some beetroot and spinach beet. I'm hoping I can grow these for micro leaves.  I went to the garden centre and bought a packet of sprouting seeds of red cabbage.  Then I got started sowing seeds.  We don't have much space on our kitchen windowsill for seed trays, so some of them are on the spare bedroom windowsill. I just have to remember to check them and water regularly and keep sowing more seeds.

So far I have cut some of the red cabbage seedlings to sprinkle over a tomato and cucumber salad.

salad leaves

beetroot seedlings

spinach beet

I also looked around the garden to see if there was anything growing in the veg beds, not really expecting to find anything. But lo and behold I'd forgotten I have kale and red cabbage growing both in the garden and down at the allotment. I've never used kale in salads, but I know the young leaves can be used in this way, so I'll probably give it a try.

Are you sowing any salad seeds at the moment?