This mix is available from Botanical Interests in packets of approximately 3,000 seeds. In hotter zones without cold winters, count the average number of days when you receive temperate weather at the coolest time of year, and plan accordingly. Other than that, you’ll want to weed regularly while making sure you don’t disturb the roots of the plants you want to keep – snipping with scissors instead of pulling is a good option. Choose a container that has adequate drainage holes and is at least six to eight inches deep. Be sure to pick a spot with good drainage, or amend the soil as needed.
What is the Provenance of Mesclun?
Patrol for bugs so you can eliminate any before they gain a stronghold, and watch the weather to make sure the temperatures aren’t going to soar and ruin the flavor of the leafy greens. Now, let’s look at everything that’s required for growing this prized greens mix. You may come across a four- or six-inch container of young mesclun seedlings for sale at a farmers market or local nursery, to transplant into the garden or a container. Just about any grocery store will have lettuce blends, though they aren’t always called mesclun.
Choose a sunny spot, prepare the soil with organic matter, and sow seeds directly in the ground or in containers. Water regularly, thin seedlings to avoid overcrowding, and use the cut-and-come-again method for continuous harvests. Refer to mesculen our lettuce and kale harvest guides for more tips on when and how to pick leafy greens. It may be tough to anticipate particular pests and diseases when the different components of the mix are prone to different issues. But because you will be harvesting baby greens early in the season, the odds are in your favor that you’ll be able to nab a harvest or two without a problem.
What Can You Add To Ramen? Spices, Veggies, & More
The best place to get a mesclun mix is at a farmer’s market, where you can choose your mix of greens. This will also help you learn more about the differences between each type since vendors can give you samples and talk about how they taste. The flavor is mild because there are so many kinds of leaf or Bibb lettuce. Bitter and sour tastes come from the radicchio, escarole, mizuna, and curly endive.
But, once they reach a harvestable size, the plants should produce for weeks. If you want or need to use insecticides, look for brands that are less harmful to you and the environment. We like to avoid insecticides on leafy vegetables wherever possible. We suggest organic sprays, and a willingness to give up some of the harvest to insects, versus using pesticides. After all, one of the reasons most of us have gardens is to avoid pesticides.
- If the weather’s still cool enough, the plants will reliably grow a second crop of baby leaves in about three weeks.
- The percentage of each leaf varies, based on whomever has created the blend, but it’s always composed of the most tender leaves.
- You can usually deter them with floating row covers applied at planting time, or pick them off by hand if you spot them.
- The blend features a couple of red lettuces, too, so the mix is particularly appealing to the eye when grown in a window box or patio planter.
Initially, this salad mix was sold by local farmer’s markets in the Nice region in France. Select a location that gets full sun, ideally six to eight hours daily. Mesclun performs best in well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
Sweet Salad Mix
These three recipes all come from French regions, but they are easily distinguishable because of the different ingredients used. However, be careful not to confuse the term Mesclun with Mescaline, which is a psychedelic drug popular in the 1960s pop culture. This hallucinogen creates effects similar to the ones produced by LSD, peyote, and mushrooms. Luckily for you, I decided to put together this guide so you can prepare it quickly without having to research the subject yourself. I was once confused about what Mesclun lettuce is, how to prepare it, and even how to pronounce it! But with the publishing of this article, I can now say that those days are but a distant, foggy memory.
Asian Greens Mix
It contained arugula, chervil, endive, and various lettuces. Place a handful onto a burger instead of the usual lettuce leaves to make the dish more colorful and nutritious, or lay a piece of grilled salmon on a bed of mesclun to add flavor. They will grow just fine in an outdoor container on your patio or deck. When it comes time to harvest, just step outside your door and snip as many leaves as you need.
How Far Apart Do You Plant Lettuce Seeds for Maximum Growth and Abundant Harvests
Pick the baby greens as often as possible once the plants reach a few inches tall. Keep all leafy greens in a sealed container with a damp paper towel or natural cloth. If the mesclun you buy is already bagged and washed, refrigerate it in the bag it came in until ready to use.
We will have a look at more modern ingredients in a second, but initially, this mix was composed of baby dandelion, lettuce, and rocket (aka arugula). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary says that “mesclun” was first used in 1976 to describe a mix of young salad greens. Mesclun mix is celebrated for its vibrant colors, diverse flavors, and versatility.
Mesclun mixes are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, along with fiber and antioxidants. Eating a mix boosts your intake of fresh greens, which can promote overall health. One serving (about 2 cups) provides approximately 20 calories, 2 grams of fiber, and essential micronutrients. If grown in a container, mesclun does not require repotting because it does not overwinter or continue producing after about two months of growth.
It allows you to experiment with some new ingredients or alternatives. When ready to harvest, cut just what you need with a pair of scissors, leaving a one-inch crown to continue growing. Stagger planting the next containers several weeks apart so you have one ready to harvest when the first container is no longer producing.
· Asian Mesclun
If the mesclun you buy is already bagged and washed, keep it in the fridge in the bag it came in until you are ready to use it. Some types will last up to a week, but most can be made in a few days. Different kinds of mixed greens are used in foods all over the world. For instance, “misticanza” in Italian is the same as “mesclun.” In Asia, baby tatsoi, bok choy, and mizuna are paired with bok choy and mizuna. Mesclun is the French word for “mixture.” Mesclun is a mix of tender, young salad green leaves. By following these tips, you can enjoy fresh, flavorful mesclun mix lettuce straight from your garden.
You can also deter ailments that are common to many vegetables, like leaf spot or downy mildew, by avoiding overhead watering. And this may not seem like a chore, but I’ll remind you anyway. It’s important to keep up with harvesting mesclun while it’s still small. Floating row covers can help to keep out any unwanted pests, and provide a little protection from heavy rain or an unexpected cold snap. Shade coverings can help to keep your greens cool if hot weather hits early.
The seedlings will eventually reach a mature height of eight to 10 inches and spread about six inches. This blend is a mixture of organic heirloom and hybrid varieties, developed for growers in southern California. Be sure to give the plants at least an inch of supplemental water per week when rain doesn’t provide it. You can monitor the amount of precipitation you’re receiving with a rain gauge. The leaves need it to stay mild and grow quickly, and warming temperatures can dry the soil out fast.
Start harvesting the baby greens in earnest about 30 days after the plants have begun sprouting. You can pick the outer leaves first if you prefer, using scissors to cut them about an inch from the soil level and leaving the inner leaves to keep growing. Rather, it’s a combination of several varieties of loose-leaf lettuces, all in one seed packet. The dictionary definition states it can also contain a variety of herbs and even edible flowering plants. Gardeners love this loose-leaf mixture, as it spells “variety” in the salad bowl. Mesclun lovers savor the varying colors, textures, and tastes.
