As part of Extinction Rebellion's mutual aid campaign, I decided to plant salad greens in containers so that everyone-- whether they have room for a garden or just have a little space outdoors such as a porch, balcony, or deck-- can have fresh greens during the pandemic. This project is easy, healthy, sustainable and beautiful. Let's get started.

Here are the steps to making your container garden:

1. Select salad green seedlings. I prefer seedlings that are organic. You can grow greens from seeds too; it's less expensive from seeds, but it takes longer and I like to save time. Choices can include lettuce, chard, spinach, radishes, sorrel, dill, mizuna, cilantro, peas, parsley, basil, beets, kale.

2. Select a container. I recycled a heavy plastic pot I saved that a tree came in. Your container could be plastic, clay, even wood or metal. You'll need a few drainage holes in the bottom. I recommend one that's at least 12" wide.

3. Mix organic potting soil with water until it's moist and crumbly, but not soaking wet, and fill the pot to within 2" of the top.

4. Plant each seedling in a hole that's the same depth as the plant + the dirt with roots. Firm the soil around the plant to make sure the roots are in contact with the soil.

5. Water each plant (about 1/2 cup per plant), and again in a few days. After two weeks you can water once a week.

6. Put the container in a spot that gets some sun, but not full sun. Salad greens like some shade and some sun. If your container is in the sun, check the soil more often because it will dry out faster. If the leaves are wilting, try to shade the pot.

7. Harvest your salad greens by cutting the leaves from the base of the plant. Cut mature leaves and always leave at least 3 or more leaves on the plant. This system is sometimes called "cut and come again" harvesting.

This container garden will give you many salads.

Happy gardening!

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