It also can carry the bacteria that contributes to E. coli illness. Continued heavy applications of manure may increase soil salts to harmful levels, a condition that periodic soil testing will help avoid. Because of high salts, avoid repeated use of most feedlot manures. Leafy Crops Leaf lettuce is easy to grow and many kinds are ready to eat 40-45 days from planting. Each variety has a distinctive texture and leaf shape.
Many companies sell blends of leaf lettuce that contain seeds of several varieties.
Some of these blends are so attractive they make a nice flower bed border. Add a few feet of spinach and you'll harvest your own gourmet spring salads. Both leaf lettuce and spinach do better in cool weather and are planted about four weeks before the date of average last frost. Swiss chard is a heat-tolerant green. Cooked, it is similar to spinach.