Extending The Harvest Of Leafy Greens

I'll keep this post really short and to the point.  A simple technique does not require a complicated blog post.

Actually this is two techniques. They each work great by themselves. Combined, these two techniques will make the most of the space you dedicate in your garden to leafy green vegetables.

• Succession Planting - Sow small batches of a crop on a regular schedule.  When square foot gardening for instance, four heads of lettuce fit in one 12" square.  Only plant the number of squares that your family can eat in two to three weeks. Wait a couple weeks and plant that small quantity again. You'll be harvesting at the same rate that you planted.
• Harvest by Trimming - One of the best ways that I've learned to extend the harvest of leafy green vegetables is to trim one large mature leaf from the outside of a plant rather than killing the entire plant at harvest time. Always use the sharpest pair of scissors that your mom will let you have, and trim an inch or two above the dirt line.  Only take one leaf from a plant, and don't trim from the same plant two days in a row. 

Taking this just a step further, consider growing a variety of different leafy greens so you can enjoy a variety of raw salad options.

Beet tops, radish tops, and carrot tops add even more variety to salads, soups, and stews.

If you are still faced with a large harvest, or if a crop is just about past it's prime and ready to bolt, dehydrating is a great way to preserve leafy greens.

Did you find this helpful?  Do you have another suggestion to share? Let us know below.