Summer is not famous for green leafy vegetables in India. But still, we are blessed with a few very nutritious summer leafy vegetables. Taro leaves are also very popular summer leafy vegetables. Did you ever try that? Apart from that, there are some wonderful green leafy vegetables which grow in this season. It is said that most leafy vegetables are low in calorie. It contains a significant amount of dietary fiber, protein, vitamins & minerals. That is why most people always try to add such greens in their diet.
I have also grown some leafy vegetables in my container garden. I selected those plants which are nutritious & easy to grow in containers/pots. Here is the list of those my favorite summer special green leafy vegetables.
5 favorite summer special green leafy vegetables in my rooftop garden
Malabar spinach
Though winter spinach is very popular across the world. But nothing to worry because of summer special malabar spinach (pui in Bengali or poi/pui in Hindi). That leafy vegetable is also used to make various delicious dishes. I also prefer to add it to mix veg dish. I also love malabar spinach leaves based fritters which are so delicious. Another awesome pui shak curry is my favorite since my childhood.
I grew 3 plants in three pots. So I can harvest whenever I need it. 3 or 4 plants are enough if you grow in pots for 3-4 people. But if you grow it on ground then 1-2 plants are more than enough.
Water spinach
I Bengali, we use to call it as kalmi shaak. These leafy green are very nutritious. Water spinach vines are very rapid growers. If you place those pots near a water body then these vines can spread all over the that. But it is not necessary because without water body you can easily grow it like me. It is used to make stir fry greens, soups, veg curry etc.
I grow this vines cuttings. Just cut 2 inch size small pieces and put its 1 inch into the ground. That’s it. After one or two month, you will see the pot is covered by the those vines. I am growing these leafy vegetables in plastic bottles. I harvest those twice a month.
Brahmi
It is a common herb or leafy vegetable in West Bengal. It is used to make pakoda. Its juice has so many medicinal values. In Ayurvedic treatment, it is used to improve memory power. These plants are also used to reduce anxiety & stress. It also said that this herb contains antioxidants.
I have also grown this leafy vegetable in three plastic pots. These herbs grow very fast. So three plants are enough for a small family and harvest twice a week. These plants do not even need any special care.
Indian pennywort/gotu kola/thankuni
Gotu kola or Indian pennywort plants have many medicinal values. So it is used to make various home remedies to cure stomach problem, reduce stress & anxiety, boost cognitive power. Leaves of this plant are used to make various traditional dishes. It is often added to make Bengali dish shukto. Its juice/extracts are also used to make a refreshing drinks during the summer season.
Also read: Gotu kola extracts herbal juice, delicious gotu kola mint juice, healthy tulsi gotu kola tea, awesome thankuni patar sharbat (bai bua bok juice)
These plants can easily grow on the ground and very easily spread. You can notice its rapid growth during rainy season. That is I prefer to grow this on the ground. But this year, recently I plants this plants in 3 pots. I hope within a few weeks those pots will be full with a lot of gotu kola leaves.
Culantro or summer coriander
It is called culantro (You may think that I misspelt it). The flavor of this plant is the same as cilantro or coriander leaves. That is why it is called summer coriander plant. Its leaves are used to make various dishes to bring flavor.
I am growing this plant for the first time in the pots. I have only two pot where I am growing this herbs. I am happy that I have these plants. So now I can harvest those fresh leaves add add to many mouthwatering dishes. I also use it to make pudina chatni.
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