Lettuce q

[pickledtink]

Finally got the new patch off and some cut and come in which is just coming up but impatient for some lettuce.
Any advice on a fast growing type I can get? Cos, little Gem, Butterhead etc.
Which is the quickest grower anyone's tried please?

[TrulyGreen]

I am growing a butterhead called 'Merveille des Quatre Saisons' the seeds are produced by Johnsons and are organic. The leaves are red tinged and I read that slugs don't touch red lecttuce leaves. They are growing very quickly and so far the nasty sluggies have left them alone. The leaves look really lovely too.....an added bonus.....good luck
Christine

[HayleyB]

The leaves are red tinged and I read that slugs don't touch red lecttuce leaves. Christine

WOW, that's why my growbag of mixed lettuce has attracted slugs that have not gone near my growbag full of lollo rossa, sitting right next to the mixed bag. It's been bugging me for weeks why one and not the other thanks for that Christine.

[TrulyGreen]

WOW, that's why my growbag of mixed lettuce has attracted slugs that have not gone near my growbag full of lollo rossa, sitting right next to the mixed bag. It's been bugging me for weeks why one and not the other thanks for that Christine.

Interested to hear that Hayley. I decided to grow red lettuce after I read that slugs don't like it. I was doubtful, but my red leaves are fine and you have added to the evidence. Any one else with similar experience ??

[RobintheBobin]

Yup I agree...my red lettuces(sp?) are sluggy free but the little gems are munched to pieces and the Funly never made it beyond 6mm tall!!!

[RobintheBobin]

'Lettuces' or is 'lettuce' a plural as well as a singular?

Hmmm...bored at work so thinking silly thoughts

[TrulyGreen]

[QUOTE=RobintheBobin;261972]'Lettuces' or is 'lettuce' a plural as well as a singular?

I think that lettuce is plural as well as singular.....but anyway.....three cheers for the red variety....hip hip......: Anything that defeats the slimey monsters is Ok with me Does slimey have an e ?

[sarahspatch]

I find the cut and come again type 'salad bowl' is very quick to grow. I made sure I added some well rotted manure to the soil to prevent it drying out so fast and bolting.

[SarzWix]

I've grown "Colour Shades Mixed" for a couple of years, it's great - fairly quick to grow, about 3 or 4 varieties in the mixture, all red/red tinged, can be cut as leaves or left to form a loose head, really nice flavours & the slugs leave it alone . I got it from Thompson & Morgan Lettuce : Colour Shades Mixed

[sewer rat]

I am growing a butterhead called 'Merveille des Quatre Saisons' Christine

That'll be what the common or garden catalogues call Marvel of Four Seasons

Yup I agree...my red lettuces(sp?) are sluggy free but the little gems are munched to pieces and the Funly never made it beyond 6mm tall!!!

I grow Charita (green frill), Amorina (red frill) and Little Gems and the slugs haven't touched any of them - they are to busy munching the chard !

I find the cut and come again type 'salad bowl' is very quick to grow. I made sure I added some well rotted manure to the soil to prevent it drying out so fast and bolting.

Have to agree that if speed is of the essence the a CCA type is what you are after. You can grow one type eg Salad Bowl or sow a mixed salad packet of seeds - various mixes available, including Mediterranean, Oriental, Herb etc.

[Cutecumber]

The quickest lettuce I have grown is definitely Salad Bowl.

They are unexciting but there's nothing wrong with them.

Try a mix of the green and red versions for a pretty result.

[HayleyB]

OK, that's decided then after battling with the slugs over my lettuces (pregnant bitch zone so no organic pellets - too risky) and now losing turnip leaves to the munching pillars I missed the last couple of days - I have concluded that all things red it will be. I will plant only types of red lettuce next year so I won't be living exclusively off lollo (got 13 of those thankfully supplementing my slug leftovers).

Interestingly the slugs haven't tasted the Chard (red and yellow) and the organic slug pellets I have been using in the front garden (pregnant bitch free area) have kept the slimy whatsits from everything else.

Pesky butterflies have attacked my khol rabi, chased one off yesterday and then picked the eggs off. I still maintain that the polystyrene box they are planted in is a slug deterrent. Actually as a test I might try planting green lettuce in a box when I have one free