Grow Your Own Summer: Easy Herbs and Salad Leaves to Plant Now

There is something special about picking fresh herbs and salad leaves straight from your own garden. You do not need a large vegetable patch to grow your own produce. A few pots, a raised bed, a window box or a bright corner near the back door can be enough to get started.

This week in our Monday Garden Guide, we are focusing on simple grow-your-own ideas for summer. Herbs and salad leaves are useful, rewarding and suitable for gardeners of all experience levels.

Some crops can be ready to harvest within just a few weeks, making them an excellent choice when you want quick results.

Why Grow Herbs and Salad Leaves?

Herbs and salad leaves are among the easiest edible crops to grow at home. They require relatively little space, many grow quickly and you can harvest only what you need.

Growing your own may also help reduce food waste. Instead of buying a large packet of salad leaves or a bunch of herbs and using only part of it, you can pick smaller amounts directly from the plant.

They are also ideal for family gardening. Children can help sow seeds, water containers and watch the first seedlings appear. Quick-growing crops such as salad leaves, rocket and radishes can provide visible results without a long wait.

Best Herbs to Grow in Summer

Many herbs grow well in pots and containers, making it easy to keep them close to the kitchen for regular picking.

The best position will depend on the herb. Mediterranean herbs generally prefer plenty of sunshine and free-draining conditions, while leafy herbs often tolerate some light shade and need more consistent moisture.

Basil

Basil enjoys warmth and should be grown in a sunny, sheltered position. As it is tender, plants should only be placed outside after the risk of frost has passed.

Keep the compost evenly moist without allowing it to become waterlogged. Harvest the shoot tips regularly to encourage bushy growth and remove flower buds if you want the plant to continue producing plenty of leaves.

Basil is particularly well suited to pots, which can be moved into a sheltered position during cooler or wetter weather.

Parsley

Parsley grows well in containers, raised beds and borders. It can grow in sun or partial shade and prefers moist but well-drained soil or compost.

Seeds can take several weeks to germinate, so young plants are a useful choice when you want a quicker start. Harvest the outer leaves from the base, allowing the younger growth in the centre to continue developing.

Parsley is a biennial plant, which means it usually produces leaves during its first year before flowering in its second.

Chives

Chives are easy-to-grow perennial herbs that return each year. They grow well in pots or borders and produce edible leaves along with attractive purple flowers.

Cut the leaves close to the base when required. Regular harvesting encourages fresh growth. If the plant begins to look tired, it can be cut back after flowering to encourage new leaves.

Chive flowers are also edible, although leaving some for bees and other pollinating insects can make the plants even more useful in the garden.

Mint

Mint is excellent for drinks, desserts, salads and summer cooking. It prefers moist soil or compost and can grow in sun or partial shade.

It spreads vigorously through underground stems, so it is usually best grown in its own container. Placing it in a mixed herb bed without restriction may allow it to overwhelm nearby plants.

Pick the shoot tips regularly to encourage bushy new growth.

Thyme

Thyme is a compact Mediterranean herb that prefers full sun and free-draining soil or compost. Once established, it tolerates drier conditions better than leafy herbs such as parsley and mint.

Avoid keeping thyme permanently wet, particularly during cooler weather. Pots should have good drainage holes, and the compost should not be allowed to remain waterlogged.

Rosemary

Rosemary prefers a warm, sunny and sheltered position with excellent drainage. It grows into a woody evergreen shrub, so allow enough room for its eventual size.

Established plants tolerate short dry periods, but newly planted rosemary and plants growing in containers still need regular checking and watering.

Choose a peat-free, free-draining compost and avoid leaving the pot standing in water.

Coriander and Dill

Coriander and dill are annual herbs that can be sown directly into pots or the ground. Sow small batches every few weeks rather than planting all the seeds at once. This is known as succession sowing and can provide a steadier supply.

Both plants can flower and set seed quickly during hot, dry weather. A position with light afternoon shade and consistently moist soil may help them remain leafy for longer.

Allowing some plants to flower can also provide food for pollinating insects and give you seeds to use or save.

Easy Salad Leaves to Sow in Summer

Many salad crops grow quickly, but the best choices depend on the stage of summer and the weather.

Lettuce, rocket and mixed salad leaves can be sown in containers, window boxes, growing bags and raised beds. During very hot weather, choose a lightly shaded position and keep the compost consistently moist, as heat and drought can cause some crops to bolt.

Bolting is when a plant begins flowering and producing seed earlier than expected. Once this happens, the leaves may become tougher or more bitter.

Loose-Leaf Lettuce

Loose-leaf and cut-and-come-again lettuces are well suited to containers. They can be harvested as baby leaves or allowed to grow larger.

Sow seeds thinly and harvest the outer leaves as required, leaving the central growing point intact. This allows the plants to produce further leaves.

Lettuce prefers cooler conditions, so summer sowings may perform better in partial shade than in strong afternoon sunshine.

Rocket

Rocket is quick and easy to grow and may be ready to harvest within about a month.

Garden rocket has a mild, peppery flavour, while wild rocket is usually stronger and can crop over a longer period. Both can bolt rapidly in hot, dry conditions, so keep plants watered and provide some light shade during the hottest part of summer.

Sow small batches every few weeks to provide a regular supply.

Mixed Salad Leaves

Packets of mixed salad seed may contain several types of lettuce, mustard, rocket and other leafy crops.

They are ideal for beginners because different colours, textures and flavours can be grown together in a single container. Follow the sowing and spacing instructions on the packet, as mixtures can vary.

Harvest young leaves with scissors, leaving a short section of growth above the compost so the plants can resprout.

Spinach and Spinach Alternatives

Ordinary spinach grows best during cooler parts of the year and may bolt quickly in hot summer weather. It is generally more reliable in spring, late summer and early autumn.

For hotter conditions, consider alternatives such as perpetual spinach, leaf beet or New Zealand spinach. These are not all true spinach, but their leaves can be used in similar ways and may cope better with summer conditions.

Check individual seed packets for the correct sowing period and growing instructions.

Oriental Salad Leaves

From late summer onwards, leafy crops such as mizuna, pak choi, mustard leaves and other Oriental greens become excellent choices.

Many prefer the cooler, shortening days of late summer and autumn. They can be harvested as baby leaves, and some are suitable for cut-and-come-again growing.

Pak choi can bolt during hot weather, so it is often better sown in early spring or from mid-to-late summer onwards.

Add Radishes and Salad Onions

Radishes and salad onions are useful additions to a summer salad container.

Radishes

Radishes are quick-growing and suitable for pots, troughs and raised beds. Sow small amounts regularly for a continuous supply.

Keep the soil or compost evenly moist. Dry conditions and slow growth can make roots woody or overly strong in flavour.

During hot summer weather, some varieties may bolt or fail to form good roots, so choose varieties recommended for summer sowing and provide light shade where necessary.

Salad Onions

Salad onions, often called spring onions, can be sown outdoors from spring onwards. Small sowings made every two or three weeks can provide harvests over a longer period.

They prefer a sunny position and well-drained soil or compost. Thin seedlings according to the instructions on the seed packet so each plant has room to develop.

Hardy varieties can also be sown in late summer or early autumn to overwinter and provide an earlier crop the following spring.

Growing in Pots and Containers

You do not need a vegetable patch to grow herbs and salad leaves. Containers are ideal for patios, balconies and smaller gardens.

Suitable options include:

• Plant pots

• Window boxes

• Troughs

• Raised planters

• Growing bags

• Recycled containers with suitable drainage holes

Choose containers that are deep enough for the plants you are growing. Shallow containers can be used for baby salad leaves, while larger herbs such as rosemary need deeper, more substantial pots.

Always make sure excess water can drain freely. Containers without drainage holes can quickly become waterlogged and damage the roots.

Fill containers with a good-quality peat-free compost suitable for vegetables, herbs or general container growing. A seed compost may be more suitable when sowing very small seeds, while established plants can be grown in peat-free multi-purpose compost.

Leave a small gap below the rim of the container so water does not immediately run over the sides.

Choosing the Right Position

Most herbs and vegetables need good light, but not every crop requires full sun throughout the day.

Basil, rosemary and thyme generally prefer a sunny, sheltered position. Mint, parsley and many salad leaves can cope with partial shade, particularly during hot weather.

Leafy crops grown in strong summer sun may wilt, dry out or bolt more quickly. Light afternoon shade can help protect them during hotter periods.

Avoid placing tender herbs in exposed or windy positions, as wind can dry out containers rapidly and damage soft growth.

Seeds or Young Plants?

Herbs and salad leaves can be grown from seed or purchased as young plants.

Seeds are an economical option and provide access to a wide choice of varieties. They are particularly suitable for quick-growing crops such as rocket, mixed salad leaves, radishes and salad onions.

Young plants offer a useful head start and can be easier for beginners. They are ideal for slower-growing herbs such as rosemary, thyme, mint and parsley.

A combination of both methods works well. You could plant a few established herbs for immediate use while sowing salad leaves for harvesting over the following weeks.

When buying young plants, check that they are healthy, well rooted and free from signs of pests or disease.

Sow Little and Often

Rather than sowing a whole packet of seed at once, sow small amounts every two or three weeks.

This succession-sowing approach can prevent all your crops becoming ready at the same time and helps provide a more continuous supply.

It works particularly well for:

• Lettuce

• Rocket

• Mixed salad leaves

• Radishes

• Salad onions

• Coriander

• Dill

Always check the seed packet, as the recommended sowing period varies between crops and varieties.

How to Keep Herbs and Salad Leaves Growing

Regular care will help keep plants healthy and productive.

Water carefully

Containers dry out more quickly than garden soil, especially during warm, sunny or windy weather. Check the compost regularly by feeling beneath the surface.

Water thoroughly when needed, directing the water towards the compost rather than over the foliage. Allow excess water to drain away and do not leave containers permanently standing in water.

Leafy crops grow best when their moisture supply is reasonably consistent. Repeatedly allowing them to dry out can cause poor growth, bitter leaves or premature flowering.

Harvest regularly

Picking herbs and salad leaves regularly encourages many plants to produce fresh growth.

For basil, coriander and similar herbs, harvest the shoot tips to encourage bushier plants. For parsley and chives, take the older outer leaves first.

Cut-and-come-again salad crops can be harvested by removing the outer leaves or cutting the young growth above the central growing point. Avoid cutting the crown at the base, as this may prevent regrowth.

Do not remove more foliage than the plant can replace. Young or recently planted herbs should be allowed to establish before being harvested heavily.

Feed when necessary

Fresh peat-free compost usually contains enough nutrients to support plants for an initial period, but crops grown in containers may eventually need feeding.

Apply a suitable liquid feed according to the compost and product instructions. Leafy crops generally need a balanced or nitrogen-rich feed rather than a high-potassium tomato feed.

Avoid overfeeding, as this can cause weak growth or damage plant roots.

Watch for pests

Slugs and snails may damage young salad plants, while aphids can gather on tender shoots.

Inspect plants regularly and remove pests by hand where practical. Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds, hoverflies and birds, and avoid using pesticides unnecessarily on edible crops.

Wash all harvested produce thoroughly before eating it.

A Simple Summer Salad Container

To create an easy salad container:

1. Choose a wide container with drainage holes.

2. Fill it with peat-free compost, leaving a small gap below the rim.

3. Sow mixed salad leaves thinly across the surface.

4. Add a short row of radishes or salad onions if there is enough room.

5. Cover the seeds according to the packet instructions.

6. Water gently using a watering can fitted with a fine rose.

7. Place the container in a bright position with some protection from strong afternoon sun.

8. Keep the compost evenly moist while the seeds germinate.

9. Thin crowded seedlings if necessary.

10. Begin harvesting once the leaves or roots reach a suitable size.

Make a second sowing two or three weeks later to extend the harvest.

Visit Carpenders Park Garden Centre for Grow-Your-Own Essentials

Ready to start growing your own?

Visit Carpenders Park Garden Centre for herb plants, vegetable plants, seeds, growing bags, peat-free compost, pots, troughs, watering cans and gardening tools.

Whether you are planting a few herbs near the kitchen door or starting a simple salad container, growing your own is an enjoyable and rewarding way to make the most of summer.

Coming Next Week

Next week in our Monday Garden Guide, we will be looking at bee-friendly gardening and some of the plants pollinators love during summer.