| We love salads and lettuce grown in the
garden is far superior to what you find in the grocery stores. It
is said that Iceberg head lettuce grown in the garden has 30 times more
vitamin A then store-bought Iceberg. That sounds like free
vitamins to me!
If you grow a variety of lettuces and plant them every couple of
weeks you can have lettuce for a long period of time in the spring and
fall. I tend to be lazy and get only one planting each
season. By the time the lettuce is finished there are so many
other vegetables coming in that we are ready to take a break from
lettuce.
My garden lettuce salads tend to be different than my store purchased
lettuce. I like lettuce, spinach, radishes and spring onions in my
garden salad. Yum-yum, it makes me hungry to just visualize it!
There are four major lettuce groups to choose from:
- Crisphead: form solid, round, firm heads. I like to
start these with plants.
Varieties:
*Iceberg: this actually does best in the fall as it can not
tolerate heat.
This is the classic and highly popular variety that
forms a solid head with crunchy texture. The compact, medium-size heads
are made up of light green to white inner leaves with a mild flavor. The
outer leaves are medium green and crinkled. For best flavor and
development of firm heads, time crops to mature during cool weather.
85-90 days to maturity.
Hanson
Good "old-time" winter variety. Very hardy.
Lettuce and salads are synonymous around
the world. Because lettuce is easy to grow and delicious, no garden is
complete without it. Head lettuce produces dense, tight crisp heads and
thrives on cool weather. This year enjoy the flavor, texture and vitamin
content of home grown head lettuce. 65-85 days to maturity.
- Loose-head: They form tender, looser heads about
the size of your fist with dark or medium green leaves. I
usually purchase a few plants and sow a few from seed directly into
the garden. This extends my season.
Varieties:
*Bibb
This is a butterhead type of lettuce producing a
moderately tight head. This gourmet variety is prized for its taste and
texture. The inner leaves blanch to a light yellow with a smooth texture
and mild flavor. The crispy outer leaves are loosely folded and dark
green, often tinged with brown. Flavor is best if timed to mature during
cool weather. 60-70 days to maturity.
*Buttercrunch
This butterhead type of lettuce is prized for its
heavy, compact heads, superb flavor, and heat resistance. The center
leaves blanch to a light color with a buttery texture and rich flavor.
Outer leaves are crisp and juicy. A good choice for production in early
summer; ideal for containers. 65-75 days to maturity. Very resistance to heat and slow to bolt. Excellent!
- Romaine or Cos: form taller, upright heads with
longer leaves and thick midribs. Take longer to mature that
loose head types and seeds are slower to germinate and takes 70-75
days to mature.
Variety:
Romaine
- Looseleaf: they do not form heads and
reach maturity in 30-40 days. I use "block" planting
of the seed.
Varieties
Black-Seeded SimpsonAbundant crinkly, light green
leaves with a crisp texture make this one of the most popular loose-leaf
lettuce varieties. The mild, delicate flavor is best if timed to mature
during cool weather. Because it matures quickly, it can be grown later
in the spring than most varieties. 40-50 days to maturity.
 *Oakleaf
(Click on thumbnail to view
enlargement)
The tender, light green leaves of this looseleaf
variety have a distinctive lobed, oakleaf shape. The unique shape and
mild flavor make it a great addition to salads. As the outer leaves are
picked, plants continue producing tender new leaves. Comes into
production early and resists heat well. Grows well in containers. 45-55
days to maturity.
Red Sails
This All-America Selections winner
produces a deliciously flavored, loose-leaf head that is
attractively colored throughout, with splashes of red that makes an
attractive, tasty addition to salads. Plants are slow to bolt to
seed, and because they mature quickly they can be grown later in the
spring than most varieties. Grows well in containers. 45-55 days to
maturity.
(Click on thumbnail to view enlargement)
*My favorite varieties |
Planting:
I sow the seed on top of finely worked soil in a block area to save
space. Then I take my rake and lightly stir the soil.
Fertilizing:
Because lettuce is such a fast growing vegetable nitrogen is
especially important when soil microorganisms can't make nitrogen from
available organic sources due to cold soil temperatures. Use 1 lb.
10-10-10 per 25 sq. ft. area.
Harvest as soon as leaves are big enough to eat. A helpful hint
is to harvest in the early morning when leaves are crisp and full of
moisture.
Check out this website from North Carolina State- Home
Garden Lettuce. |
®
Hertzler
Farm
and Feed Inc.
