Top 10 Salad Greens To Grow For Endless Summer Salads

Growing greens for summer salads is one of the most rewarding aspects of vegetable gardening. One of my favorite things about the summer garden, is the ability to simply walk outside and gather what you need to make a stunning salad. Packed with crisp greens, summer salads are a celebration of the season and offer a chance for endless creativity. With a range of greens to grow, knowing which ones to plant can take your salads from basic to beautiful.

Here’s my selective guide to essential salad greens to grow for summer salads. These include both standard favorites and a few unusual, interesting additions. These flavorful, nutrient-packed greens will add variety and beauty to your salads, all summer long.

---

---

Why Growing A Mix of Salad Greens Is A Must For Summer Salads

Greens aren’t just the base of your salad; they’re the heart of it. They bring freshness, crunch, and a wide range of flavors and forms to the plate. Choosing the right salad greens can not only enhance your salad’s texture, but also its taste, and be the basis for its style and presentation.

Salad greens are also nutritional powerhouses, loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, all of which are an essential part of a healthy diet. From mild flavors to zesty and peppery notes, there’s a green for every style of salad.

Here are my top selections for a garden full of summer salad greens!

Essential Salad Greens for Summer

---

#1 – Arugula

---

• Flavor Profile: Peppery and bold
• Best Uses: Arugula is a favorite for adding a spicy kick to your salads. I love its flavor and can enjoy it on its own but also add it to a range of salads. Pair it with citrus fruits like oranges or grapefruit for a bright contrast. It also pairs beautifully with Parmesan shavings and a drizzle of olive oil.
• Pro Tip: Succession planting and trimming the flowering stems is key to enjoying Arugula throughout the season.

Suggested Salad Recipes:

Fig And Goat Cheese Salad With Arugula & Frizzled Leeks,

Strawberry Salad With Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese,

Cherry Pistachio Arugula Salad With Whipped Feta & Pomegranate Vinaigrette,

Avocado, Egg & Arugula Salad With Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

---

#2 – Purple Kale

---

• Flavor Profile: Earthy and robust
• Best Uses: Purple Kale is a beautiful green that I grow all over my garden for the color, texture, and taste. Kale is a power green known for its firm texture and slightly bitter taste. Purple kale is a little tougher in form than its green counterpart which seems to soften a bit more in salads. Use Purple Kale as a base for salads with heavier additions like roasted delicata squash, root vegetables, and cheese.
• Pro Tip: For the best flavor, remove the tough stems and chop kale into smaller pieces. To make the kale less crisp, massage briefly with lemon juice or extra virgin olive oil.

Suggested Salad Recipes:

Kale Salad With Apple, Blue Cheese & Maple Pecans

Mexican Street Corn Salad With Avocado & Greens

Caesar Salad With Crispy Artichokes & Fried Capers

---

#3 – Curly Green Kale

---

• Flavor Profile: Earthy, robust, clean
• Best Uses: Green Kale is an absolute must have salad green. So easy to grow, it will offer endless bowls of salad throughout the summer. a power green known for its firm texture and slightly bitter taste, which softens when massaged with dressing or olive oil. Use Green Kale as a base for salads with heavier additions like avocado, eggs, nuts, and cheese.
• Pro Tip: For the best flavor, remove the tough stems and chop kale into smaller pieces. Massaging the kale or tossing with dressing helps soften the coarse texture.

Suggested Salad Recipes:

Kale Salad With Apple, Blue Cheese & Maple Pecans

Mexican Street Corn Salad With Avocado & Greens

Caesar Salad With Crispy Artichokes & Fried Capers

---

#4 – Romaine Lettuce

---

• Flavor Profile: Crisp with a refreshing crunch
• Best Uses: A staple in classic salads like Caesar, romaine’s sturdy leaves hold up well to creamy dressings and heavier toppings. It offers many forms for serving, from slicing the head in halves or quarters and creating a wedge-style salad, to leaves served individually with toppings on top, or chopped and tossed.
• Pro Tip: Romaine lettuce is high in water content, making it especially hydrating during hot summer days.

Suggested Salad Recipes:

Caesar Salad With Crispy Artichokes & Fried Capers

Mexican Street Corn Salad With Avocado & Greens

Classic Niçoise Salad With Crispy Smashed Potatoes & Jammy Eggs

Avocado, Egg & Arugula Salad With Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

Peach, Avocado & Feta Cheese Salad With Thyme Vinaigrette

---

#5 – Leaf Lettuces

---

• Flavor Profile: Mild and crisp
• Best Uses: Lettuce is a go-to classic for quick and easy salads. Its neutral flavor makes it the perfect base for virtually any combination of toppings and dressings. Try pairing lettuce with apples, avocado, and a light vinaigrette for a quick summer side.
• Pro Tip: Experiment with different lettuce varieties, there are so many. Butterhead offers a creamy texture, while iceberg provides an extra-crunchy bite. I often choose mine based on the color and texture. In early spring these are the first things to go into my garden in window boxes and planters.

Suggested Salad Recipes:

Strawberry Salad With Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese,

Classic Niçoise Salad With Crispy Smashed Potatoes & Jammy Eggs

Avocado, Egg & Arugula Salad With Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

Peach, Avocado & Feta Cheese Salad With Thyme Vinaigrette

---

#6 – Mustard Greens

---

• Flavor Profile: Spicy with a hint of bitterness
• Best Uses: Mustard greens are an absolute favorite of mine to grow, and eat. They are so beautiful in the garden, and so nutritious. These greens are not for the faint of heart, they bring a bold, spicy flavor to salads.. They’re perfect for hearty salads with grains or legumes and pair well with tangy dressings like lemon tahini.
• Pro Tip: If the flavor is too strong for your liking, balance it by chopping mustard greens finely and mixing them with milder greens like spinach or lettuce. Succession planting and trimming the flowering stems is key to enjoying Arugula throughout the season. The flowers make a lovely accent to salads and other dishes.

Suggested Salad Recipes:

Classic Niçoise Salad With Crispy Smashed Potatoes & Jammy Eggs

Avocado, Egg & Arugula Salad With Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

---

#7 – Spinach

---

• Flavor Profile: Mild and slightly sweet
• Best Uses: Spinach is one of the most versatile salad greens. It is a nutrient-dense leafy green that offers a variety of essential vitamins and minerals. Its tender leaves work well in both fresh raw salads and wilted in those served warm.
• Pro Tip: Opt for baby spinach if you prefer a more delicate texture, perfect for lighter dishes.

Suggested Salad Recipes:

Strawberry Salad With Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese,

Classic Niçoise Salad With Crispy Smashed Potatoes & Jammy Eggs

Avocado, Egg & Arugula Salad With Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

Fig And Goat Cheese Salad With Arugula & Frizzled Leeks

Cherry Pistachio Arugula Salad With Whipped Feta & Pomegranate Vinaigrette

---

#8 – Spring Mix

---

• Flavor Profile: Mild, earthy and balanced
• Best Uses: Spring mix is a blend of young, tender salad greens, composed of a number of the other greens in this list. It offers a diverse and balanced flavor profile which makes a versatile base for salads, pairing well with a variety of dressings and toppings.
• Pro Tip: Opt for lighter vinaigrettes and dressings, as its tender nature can become weighted down by heavier dressings.

Suggested Salad Recipes:

Strawberry Salad With Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese,

Classic Niçoise Salad With Crispy Smashed Potatoes & Jammy Eggs

Avocado, Egg & Arugula Salad With Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

Peach, Avocado & Feta Cheese Salad With Thyme Vinaigrette

---

#9 – Radicchio

---

• Flavor Profile: Vibrant purple, crunchy, and slightly bitter
• Best Uses: Add raw radicchio to salads for a pop of color and a bitter, crunchy contrast. Pair it with sweet ingredients like oranges, pears, or honey-based dressings to balance the bitterness. Grilling or roasting radicchio softens its bitterness and brings out a smoky, caramelized sweetness. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a simple side salad.
• Pro Tip: Radicchio leaves make a great base for, and accent to, other dishes. I often use them on cheese boards and grazing platters. With their sturdy texture, they also make a great vehicle for dips.

Suggested Salad Recipes:

Strawberry Salad With Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese,

Blood Orange And Roasted Beet Salad With Labneh & Pistachios

Cherry Pistachio Arugula Salad With Whipped Feta & Pomegranate Vinaigrette

---

#10 – Sorrel

---

• Flavor Profile: Tangy, Lemony
• Best Uses: Use fresh sorrel leaves in salads for a zesty, citrusy, bitter kick. It pairs well with other greens, fruits like strawberries or oranges, and light vinaigrettes.
• Pro Tip: A perennial herb, sorrel has a beautiful leaf, pointy and variegated with beet colored veins. It is a beautiful addition to salads and as a garnish for other dishes.

Suggested Salad Recipes:

Strawberry Salad With Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese,

Cherry Pistachio Arugula Salad With Whipped Feta & Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Avocado, Egg & Arugula Salad With Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

Peach, Avocado & Feta Cheese Salad With Thyme Vinaigrette

---

A Summer Full of Fresh Salads

With this beautiful mix of greens in your summer salad garden, there’s no limit to the flavor combinations you can create. Experiment with different greens and toppings, and don’t be afraid to try bold pairings to make your salads uniquely yours.

Which salad greens are you most excited to try? Share what you’re growing in the comments below—I’d love to see your summer salads!

Which salad greens are you most excited to try? Share what you’re growing in the comments below—I’d love to see your summer salads! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram, I’d love to see!

---

---