Save money...free food

Okay, who doesn't want free food? If you eat salad you know how expensive it can get. Not to mention that if you don't get to it right away it will melt to brown sludge in the bottom of the vegetable drawer and therefore cost you even more (I see it as having to buy the same food twice if I don't consume it, that's not cheap). When I clean out my drawer I imagine myself throwing 5 dollar bills in the trash by the handful.

So for a small initial investment you can grow free salad no matter where you live, unless it's a basement with no windows?? I've grown huge batches of salad on my balcony with just a couple of plastic window boxes. I actually like them better because I can bring them inside to sit down and harvest the lettuce without breaking my back.

I would not buy a box that is not too long I think 1 1/2 feet or 2 feet long is a great size and not too heavy. Remember to get the water tray for underneath as well, it will help the plants stay healthy. You also want to remember that if you enjoy this and want to have lettuce all summer you will need to plant new crops before the old ones start to taper down. It will get to the point that the plants are just working hard to go to seed and then it's time to let them go. And if you live in a very hot, dry climate buy a variety of seed that says "slow bolting", excessive heat will make your plants want to go to seed that much quicker.

Always buy good soil. I like "Miracle Grow" because it retains moisture and fertilizes for 3 months. I'm lazy too, I don't want to mix it myself. And buy fresh seeds. Don't use the ones that have been laying around in the junk drawer for 3 years. I like to do lettuce in a variety of types. I have romaine right now and I'm going to start some red leaf and some spinach. You can also add to the salad bowl by planting some mild herbs. I throw parsley, arugula (very expensive in the store), tarragon, summer savory, and chives into our salads.

The options are truly endless. One more note to make is that if you like to buy organic greens, you can also find organic soil and know that what your growing yourself is wholesome and free of pesticides. Before you know it you'll be wondering why you didn't do this a long time ago.

Happy planting and eating.