Whether you're an avid gardener or just starting out, learn everything you need to know about leafy green vegetables like chard and spinach, and how to take salad vegetables from seed to your table.
Featured Expert: Dr. Frank Williams, professor of plant and animal sciences at BYU.
Click on a topic below to view additional information.
Green Vegetables
What is a green vegetable?
Generally, a green is any plant where you eat the leaves.
Usually, the leaves of greens are eaten cooked.
Greens, other than those in the cabbage family are: Chard, kale, chicory, lamb's lettuce, mustard, spinach, New Zealand spinach, beet greens and turnip greens.
What is the nutrient value of greens?
Greens are a great source of vitamins and an incredible source of minerals like iron.
Tips on leafy green vegetables from Dr. Frank Williams
Studies show eating more leafy green vegetables may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Green leafy vegetables have a high amount of nutrients and vitamins.
Spinach can be grown as a spring and a fall crop. More information is available about spinach culture at this site.
Spinach is a cool weather plant, which means it should be planted in cool weather and it doesn't do well in warm conditions.
Because spinach is a cool weather plant it can actually take a little frost, but it can't take heat. Don't wait until all the frosts of the season are over to plant spinach.
You can plant spinach again in the fall when the weather begins to cool.
When the weather gets hot the plant will go to seed and a stalk will grow out from the base.
Soil
It is best to prepare the soil in the fall.
When you leave it through the winter the soil will mellow, which means the cold and the rain will break out any clumps.
You need to plant spinach as soon as the soil dries out in the spring. If you have to prepare it, you will have to wait longer for it to dry out and it will get too hot for spinach to do well.
Spinach grows well on a variety of soils, but it prefers a fertile sandy loam high in organic matter. The use of cover crops and green manure crops is recommended to maintain the soil organic matter.
If you're not sure what kind of soil you have, get a report from your local extension service or agricultural labs. They will also tell you how to remedy any problems you may have.
Picking a Spot
Spinach needs lots of sunlight. About 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day. It can be grown in partial shade but won't do as well.
Planting
Plant spinach in early spring to avoid high temperatures and long days, which cause the plants to bolt or form flower stalks. Soil temperatures above 85 F will inhibit seed germination so plant when the soil is cool.
Sow 12 to 15 seeds per foot of row. Cover 1/2 inch deep. When the plants are one inch tall, thin to 2 to 4 inches apart. Closer spacing (no thinning) is satisfactory when the entire plants are to be harvested.
Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep
Watering
Spinach requires a uniform supply of moisture to produce a high-quality crop.
Water about every 5 to 10 days.
Water the garden sufficiently to moisten the soil to a depth of 6 inches. Light sprinklings will encourage shallow rooting of the plants.
The general rule is 1 lb of Nitrogen for every 100 sq ft.
If a soil test has not been taken, apply 5-10-10 at 3 pounds per 100 square feet before planting.
Side-dress once during the growing season with ammonium nitrate (33-0-0) at 1 pound per 100 feet of row or calcium nitrate (15-0-0) at 2 pounds per 100 feet of row. More frequent side dressing may be required if the garden is sandy or if leaching rains occur.
Harvest
Spinach grows quickly. It will be ready to harvest in about 2 months.
The main indicator is the size of the leaves. You want good, large leaves.
Generally, the plants will be about 4 to 6 inches tall.
To harvest, just pull the plant out by its roots, shake off excess dirt and take it inside
If the plants go to seed the best thing is to throw the whole plant in the compost or in the trash. Digging a plant under, that has seeds, can create a high likelihood that the new plants will build up diseases.
Pests
Snails and slugs feast on most plants, especially young, tender transplants, leafy vegetables and succulent plant parts.
The cabbageworm is the larva of a common white butterfly with three to four black spots on its wings.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects with long, slender mouth parts that they use to pierce stems, leaves, and other tender plant parts and suck out plant fluids.
Tips on growing spinach from Frank Williams
Spinach is very easy to grow.
When daytime temperatures reach 75 degrees F, spinach will bolt, (send up a seed sprout) stopping leaf production.
Spinach is a cool, short season crop.
In most climates spinach may be planted in the spring or fall. In warm climates it can be planted in the winter.
Spinach can survive at temperatures above 10 degrees F. To protect your plants from colder temperatures use a light mulch of hay or straw.
Spinach needs cooler soil temperatures and shorter daylight hours.
Spinach can be grown in part shade.
Planting spinach from seed is recommended.
Spinach can be harvested 40-50 days after planting.
For a continuous harvest pick the mature outer leaves and allow inner stems to keep growing.
Every year plant new seed. The seed from your previous plants may contain viruses.
Spinach grows so quickly that it comes and is gone before there are any real insect problems.
Swiss Chard is what we call an intermediate plant. It is both a cool and a warm weather crop.
Chard is a substitute for Spinach because it will grow when the weather gets warm.
Swiss chard is a type of beet grown for the tops or the leaves.
The stems come in three colors - red, yellow and white, don't eat the stems, only the leaves. The color doesn't affect the taste.
Soil and fertilizer
Chard does well in any good soil, with 1 lb of N / 100 sq ft.
You will need to "side-dress" chard a month after planting. Do this by sprinkling fertilizer in the furrow beside the plant and work it into the soil.
Space and Sunlight
Thin the seedlings to 2 to 3 inches apart; then, when they are large enough for greens (6 to 8 inches tall), harvest the excess plants whole, leaving a final spacing of 9 to 12 inches between plants.
Planting
Plant in rows, at least 6 inches between each plant.
Chard requires more space than spinach because it grows longer and larger.
Poke the seeds about ¼ inch into the dry top soil and cover lightly.
Water
Maintain sufficient soil moisture to keep plants growing well.
Harvest
The great thing about chard is that you can continuously harvest by cutting the outer leaves 1 ½ inches from the ground. Don't pull out the whole plant.
When cutting off the older outer leaves be careful not to damage the terminal bud in the center of the foliage
Pests and Diseases
Snails and slugs feast on most plants, especially young, tender transplants, leafy vegetables and succulent plant parts.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects with long, slender mouth parts that they use to pierce stems, leaves, and other tender plant parts and suck out plant fluids.
Cabbage Looper larvae are the damaging stage of this insect. Worms feed on the undersides of leaves between the veins and leave ragged holes.
Tips on growing chard from Frank Williams
Keep harvesting all season. When you stop harvesting the plants stop producing.
Just use the leafy part of the chard. The stems can be stringy and tough.
Cut the stems at soil level.
Leaves that are less than 10" are usually the most tasteful.
Space 6 inches apart with rows 10-12 inches apart.
Plant chard in a place where it will get as much sunlight as possible.
Frank recommends that chard be planted from seed.
Depending on the temperature, water every 4 - 10 days. You want to keep chard moist.
The first harvest is ready in 6 - 10 weeks.
Chard is really one of the easiest things you can grow.
If you need to treat it, spray with an insecticidal soap that you can get from your nearby garden supplier.
Other Greens
Chicory is a lot like chard, originally grown for the root, but now eaten mainly for the leaves. It's very hardy and can be grown in hot and cold conditions.
Grow Turnips close together at the beginning of the season. When leaves begin to grow, harvest the leaves of every other plant and throw the root in the compost. Let the remainder grow for the roots.
New Zealand Spinach is a substitute for spinach. It is not related to spinach but it grows almost identically, except it grows in warmer conditions. It thrives in hot weather. Soak in warm water for 24 hours before sowing to activate the seed. Avoid all frosts.
Kale is a crucifer crop, like cabbage. It is one of the most nutritious crops you can grow. It is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Potassium, and fiber.
Collard greens are the same family as kale, they produce a good harvest, and have great nutritional value.
Tips on other greens from Frank Williams
Kale is kind of bitter, but kale that has been exposed to frost tastes sweeter.
The main pest to worry about with greens is aphids.
Salad Vegetables
Salad vegetables are eaten for the leaves, they are eaten fresh, not cooked like greens.
This group includes Celery, lettuce, endive, parsley and upland cress.
Salad vegetables are all annuals.
They are a mix of warm and cool season vegetables.
Lettuce
Lettuce, a cool-season vegetable crop, is one of the easiest to grow. Lettuce withstands light frost; however, sunlight and high summer temperatures usually cause seed stalk formation (bolting) and bitter flavor.
There are five distinct types of lettuce: leaf (also called loose-leaf lettuce), Cos or romaine, crisphead, butterhead and stem (also called asparagus lettuce).
Cos or romaine forms an upright, elongated head and is an excellent addition to salads and sandwiches.
Crisphead varieties, called iceberg lettuce, are common at supermarkets all over the country, they are adapted to northern conditions and require the most care.
Leaf lettuce, the most widely adapted type, produces crisp leaves loosely arranged on the stalk.
Butterhead varieties are generally small, loose-heading types that have tender, soft leaves with a delicate sweet flavor.
Asparagus lettuce generally grows well in cool, dry climates and favors a well-drained sandy or loam soil.
Click here to see more information about the different types of salad vegetables.
The soil also needs to be cool when you plant them.
Space and Sunlight
Thin seedlings to 4 inches apart for leaf lettuce and 6 to 8 inches apart for Cos or Butterhead. The seedlings removed may be transplanted or eaten. Transplant Crisphead seedlings 10 to 12 inches apart in the row.
Planting
You should put the seeds on ice for 24 hours.
Get a block of ice in a cooler and lay the seeds on top.
This activates the seed, and tells them it's time to grow.
If you put the seeds into warm soil they will go dormant, so make sure the soil is also cool.
Poke the seeds into the soil about 6 inches apart in rows
Cover with ¼ inch of soil
Fertilizer
Leafy crops need plenty of nitrogen. That's the key element in the good growth of leaves and it influences the crispness and quality of leafy crops, as well.
They need good soil. About 1 lb of fertilizer / 100 sq ft.
Water
Frequent light watering causes the leaves to develop rapidly, resulting in high-quality lettuce. Over watering can lead to disease, soft growth and scalding or burning of the leaf margins.
Harvest
Lettuce is ready to harvest as soon as it gets big enough to use.
You can pull up the roots and flat-lying leaves and throw them on the compost.
After harvesting the head or good leaves, you can pull up the roots and flat-lying leaves and throw them on the compost.
Pests
Snails and slugs feast on most plants, especially young, tender transplants, leafy vegetables and succulent plant parts.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects with long, slender mouth parts that they use to pierce stems, leaves, and other tender plant parts and suck out plant fluids.
Tips on salad vegetables from Frank Williams
Salad greens are a good source of fiber, Calcium, Vitamin C, and Beta Carotene.
Iceberg lettuce is sometimes difficult to get heads to form. They often end up very leafy.
Smell the stem of the lettuce, if it has an odor it means it will be bitter. This comes from not having enough water as it grows.
Lettuce likes a basic soil, not an acidic soil.
Plant in a soil that is less than 60 degrees F. If planted in a warmer soil the seed will go dormant and will not germinate. Place seeds on a block of ice 24 hours before planting to help them germinate.
Lettuce seeds are very so mix the package with a little sand to spread the seeds out when you plant them.
But beware, too much sand allows water to drain through the soil quickly, causing the seed to dry out.
Fertilize in the spring and side dress several times throughout the season. Side dress means you dig a 2 inch deep furrow beside the plants put the fertilizer in the furrow then cover it. The water will spread the fertilizer out to the plants and the roots will grow over to that area.
As lettuces get older it develops a stronger flavor.
Aphids are the biggest pest problem, they feed on the plant sap, which causes stunting and leaf curl.
To help control aphids spray with safer soap
During the day rinse the lettuce, in your garden, with water to wash the insects off. This can help control insect problems in lettuce without using pesticides.
Romain Lettuce
Romaine lettuce is a cool weather crop and is particularly sensitive to heat.
Tips for growing romaine lettuce from Frank Williams
Romaine lettuce tastes better if planted in the fall.
Romaine is a good lettuce for the home gardener; it is easier to grow than the iceberg lettuce.
In California, they start to grow celery in about February.
You can start celery inside, use a flat and place the seeds about 2 to 3 inches apart.
Cover with a quarter inch of soil.
When the plants are about 3 inches high they are ready to be moved.
Take them out gently and transfer them to a fertilized, weeded bed outside.
They're planted by removing them from their containers, setting them in a small hole and covering their root balls with soil.
Place them about 7 inches to 1 foot apart in rows.
Soil and Fertilizer
Celery needs more boron than most plants. You can buy boron as a salt from any garden store.
Sprinkle boron on the soil before you plant and also in the soil outside when you transplant.
Water
Celery needs to be watered every day.
Keep the soil muddy.
Celery loves water.
Plant the transplants on the edge of the water furrow.
When you water, run the water down the channels. You need to make sure the water drains well and that there is no standing water, but that it keeps the plants muddy.
Harvest
Celery gets a lighter color as it grows.
Just pull out the whole plant.
Some people like to blanch their celery. What's blanching and how do I do it?
Blanching will give the celery a softer, less stringy texture.
Most celery varieties today are self blanching.
If the celery is not self-blanching, you can cover the stalk with paper. Make sure you don't cover the leaves.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects with long, slender mouth parts that they use to pierce stems, leaves, and other tender plant parts and suck out plant fluids.
Mites
Onion Thrips are small insects you can't see, they make tunnels in the celery.
Tips on Growing Celery from Frank Williams
To grow your own celery transplants start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost.
Seed needs to be soaked in water for 24 hours before planting.
Soil needs to be very wet and kept wet for celery to grow.
If celery does not get enough water, the stalks will get tough and stringy.
Celery will start to crack if not getting enough water.
Celery needs to be sprayed with boron to avoid brown spots. You can get a soap that contains boron, make up a mixture with water, and spray on the celery.
Most celery now is self-blanching (or has less color). This keeps them from getting too dark.
To self blanch wrap paper around the celery. To hold the paper in place mound 6" of soil around the base.
Allow 12 to 14 days for blanched celery to be tender and sweet.
Celery can take up to 5 months to grow.
Use lady bugs or praying mantis to keep the insects population down.
Release lady bugs into the garden after sunset so birds will not prey on them.
The main problems are soil related - not enough water or minerals.
If you don't have a lot of time, don't grow it. It is a very difficult plant to grow.
