Love fresh, crunchy salads but hate waiting forever to harvest the ingredients? With the right choices, you can grow your own salad greens quickly, even if space is tight.
These fast-growing vegetables are perfect for anyone who wants homegrown flavor without the long wait.
Many of them are ready to pick in just a few weeks, and most don’t need much space or effort. Even if you live in an apartment, a sunny windowsill is often enough to grow your favorite greens.
Once you taste your own freshly harvested salad leaves, you’ll wonder why you ever bought them at the store.
#1 Arugula
Source: Harvesttotable
Peppery and bold, arugula brings a zesty twist to any salad bowl. It grows fast, reaching harvest size in about 40 days.
You can even pick the outer leaves earlier for baby greens. Arugula prefers full sun but can still do well in partial light.
#2 Kale
Source: Thespruce
This leafy green does best when the weather’s cool. Tender baby leaves are ready in as little as 25 days.
It grows well in pots or garden beds and keeps producing if you harvest it gradually. Regular watering and sunlight keep it going strong.
#3 Cress
Source: Harvesttotable
Cress is ready to harvest in about 5 to 7 days after planting. The growing process is so easy to make. You just need to sprinkle the seeds onto a moist paper towel.
After a couple of days, when the seeds have sprouted, move them to a bright windowsill. Or you can grow it in a pot for a bit longer for larger seedlings.
#4 Baby Spinach
Source: Goodhousekeeping
Soft and mild in flavor, baby spinach is a cold-hardy green you can rely on. It grows quickly, typically ready in 4 to 6 weeks.
For the best results, sow the seeds in cool soil and keep it moist. You can keep picking the outer leaves as they grow.
#5 Lettuce
Source: Almanac
Lettuce is one of the easiest greens to grow for salads. Most varieties take around 45 to 55 days to mature, but you can harvest baby leaves sooner.
It grows well in containers or raised beds. Regular watering helps prevent bitterness in the leaves.
#6 Chicory
Source: Morningchores
Chicory has a slightly bitter taste that blends well with sweeter greens. It forms a dense rosette of leafy greens that can be cut close to the soil.
After trimming, it regrows quickly for a second round. It does well in cooler seasons and appreciates moist soil.
#7 Swiss Chard
Source: Thegardeningcook
Chard brings color and flavor to your salad mix. Its broad leaves and colorful stems become harvest-ready in 50 to 65 days.
You can trim the outer leaves while leaving the center to grow. It handles light shade and adapts well to different climates.
#8 Microgreens
Source: Vegbed
Microgreens just take a week to mature, and when they have about four leaves, you can snip them off with a pair of scissors to harvest them. Some of the quickest-growing microgreens are broccoli, radish, and cress.
To grow, fill a small tray with potting mix and sprinkle the seeds on the surface, place the tray on a sunny windowsill, and keep the soil moist.
#9 Beet Greens
Source: Nutritionadvance
These tender greens grow from beetroot plants and taste earthy and mild. You can start picking them once the leaves are about 6 inches tall, usually after 45 to 60 days.
They grow best in full sun and well-draining soil. Keep harvesting to encourage more leaf growth.
#10 Alfalfa Sprouts
Source: Superfoodevolution
Alfalfa sprouts are fast-growing and ready to harvest in about 5 to 7 days. To grow, add a tablespoon of alfalfa seeds to a sprouting jar or a glass jar covered with gauze or cheesecloth, fill the jar with water, and then let the water drain out.
Then do this every day until the sprouts are ready to eat.