Hey there, fellow salad lovers and aspiring gardeners! If you’re here, you’re probably curious about growing your own salad ingredients—and with the PremierGro Indoor Vertical Garden, you’re in the right place. As someone who dove into the world of indoor gardening not long ago, I can tell you that nothing beats the thrill of picking fresh, crisp greens and vibrant veggies right at home. Today, I’m excited to walk you through a balanced setup of nine easy-to-grow, delicious plants that will keep your salads full of variety and flavor all year long. Let’s dive in!
First on our list is the humble lettuce. It may sound basic, but let me tell you, fresh homegrown lettuce has a texture and taste that store-bought can’t compare to. I like to dedicate around 30 pods in my PremierGro garden to different varieties like romaine, butterhead, and oak leaf. Lettuce grows quickly and regenerates after each harvest, meaning you’ll be set with a steady supply for salads, sandwiches, or wraps. With this many pods, you’ll easily be able to make two or three salads each week, and the best part? You’ll have greens that stay crisp and fresh longer than anything you’d find in a grocery store.
Right alongside my lettuce, I like to have a handful of spinach plants—about eight pods’ worth. Spinach is another garden superstar, perfect for adding a bit more nutritional punch to any meal. Homegrown spinach is tender and smooth, far from the chewy stuff you may be used to buying, and it’s a real treat in salads. I love tossing fresh spinach into smoothies as well, or mixing it into a quick salad with some lemon and olive oil. The leaves will grow back fast, meaning you’ll have plenty on hand to mix and match for different salads or a fresh omelet on the weekends.
If you like a little spice, don’t skip the arugula. With just five pods dedicated to it, you’ll have more than enough of this peppery green to add a unique flavor to your salads. Arugula grows like a dream in an aeroponic system, and it’s honestly pretty low-maintenance. Just keep an eye out for any flowering, as snipping the tops will help it stay leafy and productive. Adding arugula to a salad is my favorite way to liven up the usual greens—just a few leaves, and your whole salad takes on a fun, peppery twist.
For a real pop of color and flavor, cherry tomatoes are an absolute must. Imagine plucking these little red gems fresh off the vine—nothing compares. I usually plant about eight pods of cherry tomatoes, using compact varieties that thrive in the PremierGro setup. These little guys do need some extra love; they’ll appreciate a bit of pruning, and you may need to support them as they grow heavier with fruit. But once they start ripening, you’ll be treated to the juiciest, sweetest tomatoes for salads, pastas, or just as a snack. It’s a little more work, but trust me, they’re well worth it.
Moving on to cucumbers, another salad staple with a refreshing crunch! In a vertical garden, I stick with mini cucumber varieties, dedicating around five pods to these compact plants. They don’t need much space, but giving them a bit of extra room will help them thrive. I find that the cucumbers from my garden are crisp and flavorful, with none of the bitterness you sometimes find in store-bought ones. They’re perfect for slicing into salads or even just munching on as a hydrating snack.
Next, let’s talk bell peppers. With just five pods, you can grow enough small, sweet bell peppers to keep your salads colorful and tasty. Homegrown bell peppers have a mild sweetness that’s just right in a salad, and I can’t get enough of the crispness they bring. Bell peppers need a bit of care—you’ll want to prune them to keep the plants manageable and productive, and they love all the light the PremierGro system offers. Once they start producing, you’ll have enough for regular harvests to add a pop of color and flavor to your bowls.
Radishes might be one of the easiest plants to grow in this setup. In four pods, you can grow a fresh batch of radishes every couple of weeks. They’re quick to mature, and their spicy crunch is ideal for adding a bit of zest to your salads. Radishes don’t take up much space, either, so you can tuck them into your garden wherever you have room. These little guys are such fast growers that they’re perfect for first-time gardeners—instant gratification in just a couple of weeks!
For a hearty green, I recommend giving kale a try. With four pods dedicated to baby kale, you’ll have a steady supply of tender leaves perfect for salads, green smoothies, or sautés. Baby kale has a softer, sweeter flavor than mature kale, making it ideal for raw salads. Kale can be a bit more enthusiastic in its growth, so keep an eye on it and snip regularly to prevent it from crowding its neighbors. It’s tough and reliable, giving you fresh greens with minimal fuss.
Last but certainly not least, let’s add a touch of aromatic basil. Just one pod of basil will provide you with more than enough to sprinkle over salads or use in homemade dressings. Fresh basil has a bold flavor and scent that can instantly elevate any dish, and it grows easily in the vertical system. Simply snip it back regularly to encourage new leaves. I love adding a few leaves to a classic tomato and cucumber salad for a refreshing Italian twist.
With this balanced setup, you’ll be able to harvest ingredients for two or three delicious salads each week, keeping things fresh and flavorful. Try mixing and matching these ingredients for a variety of salads: a classic garden salad with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and basil; a hearty spinach and arugula mix with bell peppers and radishes for a punch of flavor; or a kale-based power salad topped with cherry tomatoes and sweet bell peppers. With these plants thriving in your PremierGro garden, you’ll have endless possibilities at your fingertips, and every salad will taste garden-fresh, no matter the season. Enjoy the journey, and happy growing!