October 31, 2013

If a fall-winter garden won’t be happening for you, think about a few attractive containers on a sunny patio or balcony planted with your favorite greens.

Sunset Magazine’s September issue gives the details:

• Select vegetables that can tolerate a light frost such as kale, bok choy and mustard. (In frost free areas lettuce is an option).
• Plant 5 seedlings in a 12-inch wide container filled with potting soil.
• Pick outer leaves of kale and mustard when plants reach six inches. Bok choy is harvested at about one foot.
• Replant through the winter season.

Last winter my red frills mustard overwhelmed my lettuce bed so I’m growing it in a container this year. I’ll harvest leaves and keep it to size. This is ‘Ruby Streaks’ and seeds are available from High Mowing Seeds. (See how the mustard is grown and the organic seed harvested here).

While waiting for my seed-grown lettuce last year, I planted a mixed six-pack in a container and had colorful salads for over a month. How easy is that? Fun for kids too.