My favorite hobby to do every year is to set up my annual herb and vegetable garden! During this interesting time we are living in, many people have started growing their own gardens. From what I hear, it’s been a wonderful experience in more ways than they could have ever imagined! However, for garden newbies, there’s a common issue that arises. You’ve grown all of this delicious fresh food and then you realize that you don't know how to harvest it. This is especially true for harvesting salad and I’m here to help because today I’m going to guide you on how to cut fresh salad greens from your own garden!

One thing I realized immediately when this pandemic began is that it is more vital than ever to have your own garden. When this thought came to me, I made sure to spread the word to my family and friends because growing a garden can serve many purposes during this time. It can help provide sustenance in case there is a break in the food supply chain, you can save money as food costs continue to rise as well as tending to a garden can be a mindful experience. I honestly feel there is something cathartic about taking precious time to care for and maintain an entity outside of ourselves.

I must say it’s been fun seeing the amazing setups of some of my favorite people who started their own herb and vegetable gardens this year! My Dad is a great example. When we talk on FaceTime, I love seeing the joy and immense pride on his face when he talks about his robust patio garden full of tomatoes, squash, salad greens, and more! 

Harvesting salad greens is a really fun and therapeutic experience! Hearing the clipping of the scissors, listening to the outdoor ambiance of birds chirping and feeling a light breeze on your face makes it a special moment of mindfulness. The bonus comes in when you get to eat this fresh bounty of salad greens from your own hard work! 

Today’s focus is going to be on how to cut the leaf lettuce varieties like red and green leaf, spinach, arugula and etc. This type of lettuce has the ability to rapidly regrow its leaves over and over again from the main stem. This is why it’s so lovingly called “cut and come again lettuce!” 

All you need to harvest salad greens are a couple of things such as a colander or large bowl of your choice to collect the salad greens, a flour sack kitchen towel or a paper towel to line your vessel, a pair of sharp scissors, and a cheerful disposition! Any type of sharp scissors will do the job and my all-time favorite are these beautiful Japanese style garden shears. They are absolutely gorgeous and super sharp for precision cutting!

Harvesting salad greens will be one of the easiest and most rewarding parts of your gardening experience. It’s most optimal to harvest your salad greens in the early morning hours because the leaves will be crisp and full of moisture. When you’re ready to cut salad like red leaf, green leaf, spinach, and kale, you want to cut as close to the main stem as possible without disrupting the main stem or the root ball. I would say it’s best to leave about 1-2 inches of the newly cut lettuce leaf stem just to be safe and do not cut the smaller leaves at the base of the plant. Doing this ensures that you will have ample regrowth in its next cycle. If you cut it back too much the plant may become damaged and not grow back which means you’ll have to plant another seedling in its place. 

Arugula is even easier to cut because it spreads as it grows. All you have to do is gather all of the leaves you want in one hand and do one large chop near the base of the plant! Just leave about 1-2 inches of stems like above, then you’re all set for a delicious meal and lots of regrowth! 

It’s best to harvest leaf lettuce varieties when they are small in size about 3-5 inches in length. This is the size that’s called baby spring mix or mesclun mix in grocery stores. The leaves will be very tender and sweet with a delicate flavor. If you let these types of lettuce grow for too long, they will bolt and the leaves will taste bitter. Bolting is when the plant has decided it’s ready to seed so it will shoot out flowers to prepare for seeding. Bolting also occurs when the temperature is too hot for the salad to continue growing. At this point, it’s best to dig up the mature salad and sow a new plant in its place. You can also allow the salad plant to produce seeds and then you can collect them to grow new salad seedlings for years to come! 

Snip all of the lettuce that you need and place it into the bowl. After harvesting, your container or plot will look a little bit strange and naked. Don’t fret because in about one or two weeks it’ll be twice the size if not more than the first time you cut it back. You want to make sure that you’re cutting on a regular basis such as once a week or once every two weeks. You will be amazed at how fast and ample your next round of salad will be after your initial harvest!

Now take your salad greens inside, give them a good wash and dry with a salad spinner or paper towels. At this point, you’re ready for a wonderful feast or you can store your newly harvested salad greens in a plastic storage bag in the refrigerator for later use!

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed today’s tutorial and if you are an avid gardener, a newbie in the garden game or a lover of great salads let me know in the comments below! Take care and stay tuned for a recipe that’s inspired by today’s delicious harvest!

-Shari :)