Salads make great summer meals because they don’t require cooking, are fast and easy to prepare, and won’t heat up the kitchen.

They bring to the table a bounty of fresh veggies rich in nutrients that can be tossed in a bowl. And with the addition of grilled chicken, salmon, shrimp, beef or beans, summer salads become light yet hearty entrées with a protein kick.

If you love salads, consider creating a “salad bowl” garden that is planted with lettuces and greens, radishes, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes or anything else you like to add to salad. Before you plant, make a trip to your local farmers’ market or grocery store to see the array of produce and the many varieties available. That way you can taste it before you grow it!

Greens are relatively easy and inexpensive to grow, and don’t require a lot of space—they can even be planted in containers. By growing your own, you’ll have a wider selection to choose from than what’s available in most stores. And keep in mind that the darker green leaves contain more nutrition than iceberg or lighter greens.

Here’s a list of some greens and veggies that you might want to consider planting in your salad garden.

Red or green leaf lettuces are considered “loose leaf” varieties. They are easy to grow and an excellent source of calcium, vitamin C and vitamin A.

Romaine lettuce has a sweet, crisp, white “heart” surrounded by sturdy outer leaves. Good source of vitamins C and A.

Butterhead lettuce (including Boston and Bibb) has thick but soft and tender leaves with a sweet flavor. Good source of calcium and magnesium.

Arugula (also called rocket) is a peppery salad green that is easy to grow. Delicious in salads, on sandwiches and in omelets. High in vitamins A and C.

Spinach is versatile in salads and has many uses in cooked recipes, too. Rich in iron, vitamins C, A and K, calcium, and potassium, it packs a nutritious punch!

Radicchio, sometimes known as Italian chicory, is a striking red leaf vegetable with white veins. Some like its bitter, spicy flavor in salads, but it mellows when it’s grilled or roasted.

Carrots come in all shapes and sizes, and grow well in containers. Try unusual ones like the small, round, orange Thumbelina, or the baby, fingerling Bambina, a sweet choice.

Cucumbers add crunch to any salad and come in many varieties, from seedless to picklers to slicers. Lemon cucumbers are round and yellow and have a sweet flavor. Choose a burpless type for slicing in salads, like an English cucumber.

Radishes are easy to grow and come in all shapes, from round to oval to long and tapered. They often have a peppery kick to them. Try the unusual, crunchy French Breakfast Radish (long and skinny, part white, part red) or the all-white, tapered Icicle Radish.

Tomatoes can thrive in pots as well as the ground, so if you’re limited on space, use a container to grow small grape or cherry tomatoes—they’re great in salads. Visit a farmers market to find heirloom starts, or look online for seed growers that offer unusual varieties. There are too many varieties to mention, but whatever type you choose, you know your home-grown tomatoes will taste far better than those you buy in the store!