Leafy vegetables are one of the best ways to keep yourself healthy as they are far more nutritious than any other vegetables and have low-calorie content too. The green leafy vegetables are easy to grow as they can be grown in short, cool growing seasons and can be harvested earlier than any other crops. Being rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, calcium, iron, etc., leafy vegetables are one of the best ways to increase the vitamin & nutrition intake in your diet. So what are we waiting for? Let’s get started!
see also: all about Stem Vegetables
Leafy vegetables: How to grow?
The leafy vegetables grow best in open and level areas, so make sure that you plant them in an area that is open, preferably but not limited to a terrace. Make sure they are planted in an area that receives sunlight for the majority of the day, as these plants need at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight for a high-quality harvest. Seeds of leafy vegetables can be sown directly in the soil, but care should be taken to ensure the depth for proper germination.
Avoid planting leafy vegetables in sandy or heavy clay soil as leafy vegetables want nitrogen for growth, and it is better to do a soil analysis before tying fertilisers. After the soil analysis, try to add fertilisers that enrich the soil and help in the growth of the leafy vegetables.
Source: Pinterest
see: All about Malabar Spinach
Leafy vegetables: How to maintain?
Growing leafy vegetables requires care, time, and hard work to grow, but the result is nutritious and beneficial for you. So here are some of the important maintenance tips that can be used while taking care of your leafy vegetables in your vegetable garden.
- Make sure the planting area has enough sunlight along with some shady spots for better growth of the leafy vegetables.
- The water must be easily accessible for eating the vegetable plants.
- Plant the leafy vegetables in proper containers, as you don’t want to plant vegetables that have roots expanding in all directions, breaking the pots.
- Avoid overwatering the plants as it hinders the aeration process in the roots.
- Avoid spraying the foliage as it will attract more pests and insects.
- If you wish to harvest the leaves while they are growing, then keep in mind to harvest the long, leafy ones first so that the short ones have time to grow.
- Don’t keep plants too close to each other as they will crave and compete for nutrition, water, sunlight, etc., and might not grow well.
Known about: root vegetables
Leafy vegetables: Uses and benefits
Healthy diets should contain leafy green veggies. They are low in calories and high in fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Numerous health advantages, such as a decreased risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and mental decline, can be obtained from eating a diet high in leafy greens.
Source: Pinterest
See Also: Know more about the bitter gourd plant
What leafy vegetables can you grow at home?
Here’s a list of 5 leafy vegetables you should try growing in your garden:
Spinach
Whether you have the crispy leaves of spinach raw or cooked, the rich taste will leave you speechless. The cherry on top is the fact that it goes well with everything. If you want to create something healthy for breakfast, then spinach is your best friend. It works with every meal. Want to know the best part of growing these leafy vegetables? Growing spinach in a pot or a vegetable garden is one of the easiest things. One of the greatest green leafy veggies you can plant is, without a doubt, this one.
Celery
Is anyone out there very observant of their weight and calorie intake? Well, we have the next big thing for you. Celery is one of the most popular low-calorie intake vegetables you can enjoy with your salads. It helps improve digestion and is also not difficult to grow. You must pick a bowl or planter with a minimum depth of 8 inches. Keep the soil wet, and voila! Fertilise it frequently with liquid fertiliser. Your salad component is something you grew.
Swiss chard
With glossy green leaves that are stunning to look at on a strong leaf stalk, we have Swiss chard. Being a close cousin of beetroot, it is beautiful to look at and nutritious to eat. Swiss chard, a close relative of beetroots, features glossy green leaves atop bright leaf stalks that are both beautiful to look at and delicious to eat.
While the mature leaves may be utilised and added to soups, the soft baby leaves can be used to liven up salads. They need full sun to grow well, so placement of the plant in a spot receiving at least 6-8 hours of sunlight is important for the good growth of the plant.
Lettuce
Packed with vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre, lettuce is a crispy vegetable that can make any meal crunchy and healthy. It is ideal for those with renal issues and nervous system diseases and might be advantageous for them to consume it on a regular basis. The greatest approach to quickly collect the freshest leaves without a regular garden is to cultivate lettuce in pots.
Cabbage
The most scrumptious addition to your salad can be a fresh and crisp shredded cabbage. The hero of many cost-effective salad dishes all around the world, cabbage is renowned for its crunchiness and peppery flavour when eaten raw. Cabbage may be grown everywhere, but the best time to cultivate the green crop varies depending on the temperature. While growing cabbage is not easy compared to all the other vegetables, the end product is worth the effort. Fertilising and soil requirements for growing cabbage are similar to cauliflower.
