Life is a Garden | South Africa |

Glorious summer means days spent around the pool and braai. And this normally means friends and family will be invited over for a delicious meal. There is nothing nicer than to be able to pick your own fresh home-grown herbs and salad ingredients - not only is it both healthy and practical, but also a great way to impress your guests!

Planting your own salad garden need not be an elusive dream, all your need is a small sunny patch of garden or even a few pots, window boxes or hanging baskets. A good example of how life is a garden, no matter where you live!
Prepare beds by adding about a bag of compost per square metre, or fill pots with good quality potting mix (don't forget a few stones around the drainage holes). Add a handful or two of bonemeal for each bag of compost (in beds), or potting mix, which will encourage better root development and healthy growth. Remember to water your veggie patch at least twice a week, and to feed regularly with an organic fertiliser for healthy leaves and fruit.

Make a list of herbs and salad ingredients that you like to use often. You will want to grow enough to use throughout the summer.
Here are some basics you will find at your local garden centre now:

Lettuce

The staple of any green salad, there are two types from which to choose. The traditional head forming lettuce such as 'Great Lakes' is ideal for feeding hoards of guests this summer. They take about two months till harvesting. Loose leaf varieties are very easy to cultivate, and you can start to pick leaves (the outer ones only) almost straight after planting. Today there are many varieties available, and by planting a few of each you will be able to add variety to your salads. 'Cos' (Romaine) is a loose-leaf butter lettuce with the best flavour, while 'Lollo Rosa', 'Red Oak Leaf” and 'Lollo Bionda' are loose-leaf lettuces with frilled and coloured leaves.

Cocktail tomatoes

These are the easiest tomatoes to grow. One or two bushes take up a fair amount of space (about a square metre), but provide a massive quantity of fruit. Use them on their own or throw them whole into the salad.

Rocket

This herb has 'rocketed' to fame in the last few years thanks to the celebrity chefs on television. It is a fast growing herb with a peppery taste which can be used as a substitute for lettuce, or used to add a bite to regular salads.

Baby spinach

Not to be confused with traditional spinach (Swiss chard), the young, tender baby leaves are a great alternative salad green to lettuce.

Radishes

This small bulb is extremely easy to grow. The seeds are large enough to plant individually. Their crisp, peppery taste can be appreciated, eaten on their own, or diced into a salad.

Basil

This spicy, pungent herb will liven up any dull salad, especially if it is used in conjunction with tomatoes. Sweet basil is the most common variety, but you can also used the purple-leafed basil or any of the flavoured varieties (lemon, cinnamon, camphor).

Spring onions

Spring onions have a milder taste than true onions. They are great for potato salads, as well as adding to cooked dishes too. Grow spring onions from seed. Snip off a few leaves off each plant, and they will keep on growing through the season. When the bulbs have thickened in winter, they will be perfect for adding to a stew.

Mustard

We are all used to mustard (obtained from the seeds) but the leaves of mustard have a milder mustard flavour, are rich in vitamins and are a pleasant extra for the summer salad. It is easily grown from seed.

Peppers

There are a huge variety of peppers which include green or coloured ones, and chillies (mild or hot). They grow into small bushes about 80cm tall, and produce copious quantities of fruit through the warm season. They add great colour and flavour to salads and other savoury dishes. Plant a few of your favourites for a regular fresh supply.

- By Allan Haschick