There’s nothing like the taste ofhome-gmm salads, and even when summer’s over, you can still enjoy fresh pickings.
Time to sow: early autumn
Sow a selection of lettuce and salad ieaves in eariy autumn and you'ii be harvesting from late autumn until spring. The earlier you sow, the sooner you'll be picking, so don't delay. For best results, sowmgs should be completed by midto late September.
Although the range of lettuce and salad leaf varieties for early autumn sowmg isn't as M08 as it is for spring sowmg, most seed companies do offer a good selection. When choosmg varieties, select hardy types. as they'll cope wuth the harsh winter conditions. Many summer salads simply won't tolerate the cold and wet of a typical Winter outside.
There are two ways you can grow Winter salads. The first is simply to sow the seeds directly outside. The second is to raise young plants in pots or modules, then plant them out later. Whichever method you choose, remember to pick a warm, sheltered site. Light and warmth are crucial for succesle winter salad crops, and the protection of a cloche is vital through the winter months.
TIP Good salad crops to sow in early autumn include cutand-come-again varieties of lettuce. wild rocket, mizuna and com salad (sometimes sold as lamb's lettuce).
references: references: BBC 2011 gardeners book
image: https://img.taste.com.au/ses6Dz7c/taste/2016/11/winter-salad-with-buttermilk-dressing-103768-1.jpeg