It's not often that we eat plant leaves, but in the case of greens, they provide a wide range of flavor and a nutrient punch. What are greens? Leafy garden greens are more than lettuce. The types of garden greens range from the tops of edible roots like turnips and beets, to ornamental plants like kale and chard. Growing greens is easy and increases the diversity in your diet.
What are Greens?
Cool season crops suitable for spring or fall, greens are the foliage and leaves of edible plants. Greens are an important part of your salad, but some of the more rustic varieties make excellent cooked vegetables too. Greens have an important place in the history of the American diet. They have often been discarded or considered less valuable where a root crop was involved, so farm laborers developed innovative methods of cooking these cast off leaves and created delicious and nutritious dishes.
Types of Garden Greens
There is a wide array of garden greens. Some examples of those eaten fresh and raw are:
Leafy garden greens that are better when cooked include:
There are also greens which are good raw but can also be cooked, such as arugula and Swiss chard. In addition to more common greens, there are wild greens in cultivation as part of salad blends and Asian greens that provide unique and fun additions to your culinary roster. Learn what to do with greens in the garden and add gourmet leafy garden greens to your vegetable crisper.
Growing Greens
Plant your green seeds in well-drained soil during early spring or late summer. Fall crops are sown three months before the first expected frost. Choose a location in full but indirect sun. Cover seeds with ¼ to ½ inch (6 mm. to 1 cm.) of well-worked soil. Leafy garden greens require even moisture and consistent weed removal. Some greens may be harvested when small or cut back for a “cut and come again” second harvest. Escarole and endive are blanched by covering the row for three days. Other greens are best harvested at mature size. All greens are best harvested before hot, dry weather arrives.
What to Do With Greens in the Garden
- How you use your greens depends on the variety.
- Heavy, thick leaves are more palatable when you remove the ribs.
- All greens should be washed and drained well before use.
- The types of garden greens that are cooked can be cut and stir-fried, poached, or cooked down slowly in a savory broth known as pot liquor, often spelled as pot likker.
- Small leaved greens mixed together add punch to salads, and peppery arugula is amazing as a pesto.
- As with most vegetables, the quicker you cook leafy garden greens, the more nutrients they retain.
-
10 Best Apartment Plants To Turn Your Small Space Into An OasisThe best apartment plants can lend an ambience of the tropics, brighten up a space, or add a touch of drama, and turn an apartment into a relaxing oasis.
-
Grow a Bathroom Oasis: 8 Best Bathroom Plants With No Light or Low LightSome apartment dwellers grow the best bathroom plants with no light or low light. Read how one of our favorite plant lovers does it in the big city.
-
Substitutes For Lettuce – Growing Alternative Salad GreensAlternatives to lettuce are generally higher in nutrients and more flavorful. Click here for some ideas on what to use as substitutes for your lettuce.
-
Mibuna Mustard Greens: How To Grow Mibuna GreensMibuna mustard is a highly nutritious Asian green with a mild, mustardy flavor. Wondering how to grow mibuna greens? Click here.
-
Autumn Crop Greens – When To Plant Greens In The FallYou can easily grow greens in fall. Many leafy salad greens are cool season crops that prefer the autumn temperatures. Click here for more.
-
How To Harvest Leafy Greens – Picking Leafy Greens In The GardenAll leafy greens are easy to grow, rich in nutrients (although some more than others) and some can be eaten both fresh and cooked. Harvesting leafy greens is a simple matter as well. Click here if you’re interested in learning how and when to harvest garden greens.
-
Growing A Salad Bowl Garden: Learn How To Grow Greens In A PotGrowing greens in containers allows you to select the types of greens you favor rather than settling for one of those supermarket mixes. They're also less expensive. A salad bowl garden is really a win/win. Click this article to find out how to grow greens in a pot.
-
Winter Salad Greens: Tips On Growing Greens In WinterIf you get cold winters, you're not going to be picking tomatoes in February. You may, however, be picking any leafy greens you like. If you're growing in the winter, salad greens are the way to go. Learn how to grow greens over winter here.
-
Komatsuna Plant Care: Tips On Growing Komatsuna GreensI dare say most of us have never heard of growing komatsuna greens; I hadn't. When I read about them, I began to wonder what does komatsuna taste like and how do you grow it. Read on to discover a wealth of interesting komatsuna facts.
-
Asian Mizuna Greens: How To Grow Mizuna Greens In The GardenMizuna greens are a popular leafy vegetable from Asia that is used worldwide. Like many Asian greens, they are related to the more familiar mustard greens. For more information on growing mizuna greens, this article will help.
