Lettuce

[momol]

I like to grow Lambs Lettuce and a mix called Spicy Oriental. A friend bought me a variety called 'Drunken Woman' for my 40th birthday - wonder what he was trying to say???

Lambs lettuce (mache) grow very slow T lady, you can use shallow pot for them. Now is the best time to sow. I still got some growing out there from last autumn and they overwinter very well .

[JennieAtkinson]

The beauty of lettuce and salad leaves is that you can try so many different varieties right the way through the summer. They do like a colder temperature, so I get better results in the tunnel than the greenhouse, but I do have a friend here in Shetland who grows absolutely great lettuce outside, but he is a bit more sheltered than me.

I bought a couple of module trays a few years ago and cut them up into strips of four modules (they are the larger ones). Then I sow successionally every 14 days into the strips a bit of a selection and just wait and see what comes up. Once established in the modules I then plant out in little rows in a raised bed in the tunnel.

My favourite grower is Little Gem, but there is one called Artic something which stands very well in the tunnel right through to Christmas, so we have a bit of greenery on our Christmas dinner starter! But the mixed leaves are great as well.

[veg4681]

I personally love home-grown 'Iceberg' types - so cool, crunchy & juicy! My favourite variety is 'Set' from Suttons, grows well even in summer heat, but doesn't mind the cold either. I sow them in cell-trays - in a frost-free greenhouse or outdoors in a shady spot in the summer, then plant out into whatever spaces I have.

I like iceberg lettuce for its relatively fleshy leaves and buy them when I'm unable to grow any lettuces during winter/spring but always feel they might take too long to grow (reminds me of cabbage) and once you've harvested by pulling the whole plant off, they're gone. I have no idea how it would be possible to do successional sowing for iceberg, if it's even possible/practical to manage that.

[momol]

I like iceberg lettuce for its relatively fleshy leaves and buy them when I'm unable to grow any lettuces during winter/spring but always feel they might take too long to grow (reminds me of cabbage) and once you've harvested by pulling the whole plant off, they're gone. I have no idea on how it would be possible to do successional sowing for iceberg, if it's even possible/practical to manage that.

I grow the iceberg accidentally last year (it is from french Mesclun salad mix seeds) but it didn't form any compact head as it was too warm during summer.

[SarzWix]

I like iceberg lettuce for its relatively fleshy leaves and buy them when I'm unable to grow any lettuces during winter/spring but always feel they might take too long to grow (reminds me of cabbage) and once you've harvested by pulling the whole plant off, they're gone. I have no idea how it would be possible to do successional sowing for iceberg, if it's even possible/practical to manage that.

You're right in a way Veg, they can take a long time to grow to a big heart. But because I was sowing them in cell trays, it was much easier to do successional sowing - I sowed 6 cells at a time & used 2 of them as a kind of 'loose leaf' while the others grew bigger. I also had 2 other types of loose leaf lettuce & rocket to eat! This year I'm trying a mini iceberg too from T&M (I think it's called Mini Green) which will hopefully mature a bit more quickly!

[Farmer_Gyles]

i like iceberg lettuce the best - got saladin - and they grow HUGE!
also gonna grow a couple of little gem and a looser leaf variety

[JennieAtkinson]

I had great success with iceberg last year in the tunnel. Really impressed by son as he thought you could only buy those. They had a lovely taste too, nothing like the watery ones in the shops. I was pretty impressed with the way the leaves all curled over themselves and they were pretty slug free too.

[Sirius]

I'm about to sow my lettuces and start them off indoors and I'm sure we haven't seen the last of the frosts here for months yet.

I'm sowing Lambs Lettuce (my absolute favourite), Salad Bowl lettuce (cut and come again) , a Leaf Salad mix containing Red Cos, Batavia and Oak-Leaf Lettuce, plus Rocket, Sorrel and Land Cress (not lettuces I know, but still ). Easiest thing to grow is lettuce, I had tons last year and I have no clue what I'm doing!! But I live on salad pretty much, can't get enough! Good luck!

[JennieAtkinson]

If you end up with loads of lettuce, you can make lettuce soup which is loverly .........

[Cutecumber]

Oh yes, lettuce and pea soup, with some potato in it for bulk...

marvellous!

[supersam]

Hi all

Ive not had much success with lettuce the last year or so. Having read the posts I think this is because it has either been in the sun or in the heat!! DOH

Anyway I have developed this love for rocket! and would like to grow my own. Has anyone done this and how did it go? Is it the same conditions needed? Should I try sowing some rocket and also a mixed lot in my greenhouse now?

Sam xx

[Protea]

I'm terrible with lettuces, i always sow too much, then forget to plant them out so end up with a tray full of mini letuces (which i still use in a salad so i still eat them!)

I did manage to grow some lovely lettuces at the beginning of last year though, some crispheads which i hadn't grown before and were really tasty (not like the supermarket iceburgs at all, i was quite suprised), my faves last year were butterheads, i grew all year round and Lillian, both grew really easily and were great in salads.

I also grew some loose leaf types mixed in with some rocket, and spinach in a plastic trough on the garden path so its close to the house, perfect for sandwich fillings as i can't be bothered to drive to the plot for lunch!!

[jeannine]

Firstly, I can't understand why people would buy rocket as it's such a doddle to grow. Just remember to keep picking it in warmer weather so it doesn't bolt. It can be affected by flea beetle, so I'd recommend Turkish rocket which is resistant.

You can easily grow it in a pot on a windowsill, it's really not fussy.

The secret of success with lettuce is to sow little and often so you have a continuous crop and sow in the cooler months as it doesn't always germinate if you sow it in July and August.

It might be worth trying a cut and come again leaf mix with lots of varieties in if you're new to lettuce growing, so you can see what you enjoy and what suits your conditions.

[sewer rat]

I start my lettuces off in cells and then transplant them out - I have grown from natural seed and also split pills - these are where the seed is encased in a coating to make them easier to handle and sow and this definitely helps.
I grew Little Gem, Saladin, Salad Bowl (Red and Green) Charita and Amorina. The last two are just superb - 100% germination, fast growing, superb tasting - a frilly leaved type - Charita is green and suitable for winter production under cover too.

[Protea]

I start my lettuces off in cells and then transplant them out - I have grown from natural seed and also split pills - these are where the seed is encased in a coating to make them easier to handle and sow and this definitely helps.
I grew Little Gem, Saladin, Salad Bowl (Red and Green) Charita and Amorina. The last two are just superb - 100% germination, fast growing, superb tasting - a frilly leaved type - Charita is green and suitable for winter production under cover too.

Rat, what are 'split pills'? is this just another name for pelleted seed or something else? the 'split' bit is confusing me i think!

The Lillian butterhead variety i grew last year was pelleted and it seemed to take longer to germinate than the natural seed i had sown at the same time. Different varieties of course! do you find the pelleted seed takes longer? its certainly easier to handle.