Growing Lettuce

[teamladd]

Hi All,

After searching through the forums I havent managed to find an answer to yet another question! What is the best way to grow lettuce? I have some rocket and another type of seed. Can anyone advise me with this?

Thanks.

[zazen999]

Little and often, somewhere cool, and make sure the slugs don't eat them.

[21again]

I bought some of those hanging baskets from Poundland ( plus £1 for the bracket) and have just planted some more in there.

That's one way of keeping the slugs off!

I bought one of those £4.99 arches from Wilkinson a couple of years ago and have two hanging from that (I have honeysuckle and jasmine growing in a couple of large pots on either side of it). Because the honeysuckle has gone mad it is quite shady under there and one of the baskets has about 6 mixed loose leaf in there which are growing quite well. That is probably too many for a 10" pot but I pick the leaves when they are quite small.

[Florence Fennel]

I've got them all over the place - cut and come again are in trays in the GH, in tubs, boxes and garden borders and in between rows of other veg. I have also got some iceberg in separate modules as I want them with hearts. I have mizuna that is lush and thick (direct from seed into large pots) and the rocket (which I think you'll find grows at the speed of one when it gets going) I directly sow into garden soil at the edge of a bed. My family love lettuce and help themselves when they want any. It also looks very pretty! I use a lot of slug pellets.

[hamsterqueen]

iI grow mine in raised beds

I use those mixtures of salad leaves, grow some as 'cut and come again' and transfer one or two to another bed to grow as full lettuces. Also sow a small amount every few weeks.

[gemlady]

I've also got a mixture of salad leaves in my greenhouse, my lamb's lettuce and cos lettuce is outside at moment in tubs but something is taking a liking to the cos at the moment, strangely the lamb's is ok (so far). I sow some every few weeks to make sure I have a constant supply.

[21again]

Has anyone grown Little Gem in hanging baskets?

[Welsh Wizard]

I seem to have a real lettuce problem, the slugs eat them before I do (apart from Lollo Rosso). Going to have to use some rings cut from bottles to keep th buggers off.

[hsthst]

If you find too many lettuces ready at the same time, simply dig a few up and lay them on the soil ( protect against slugs etc). They will go limp after a day so replant them in the same location with a good watering and after a few days they'll be fine. You basically haltered their growing while you feast on others. Lettuces can be staggered and managed this way to ensure they reach picking time when you want

[Flobalob]

I grow them wherever I can find space for them in my garden.
When I run out bof space I have them growing in plastic milk cartons. I then tack the carton to the sides of my raised bed or fence.

[Flobalob]

Took this photo this morning so I thought I would add it to my previous reply.
may+harvest+010.jpg (image)

[MrsC]

Took this photo this morning so I thought I would add it to my previous reply.
may+harvest+010.jpg (image)

Good pic, like the milk carton idea

[taskey]

love the dogs flub, also fab garden

Tracy

[Bluemchen]

I do cut and come again, and grow some to heart up and harvest whole. THey're under cloches at the mo and romping away. Also, sow in a tray, and plant out when they have 4 or so leaves. Leave them to grow a little and then harvest the outer leaves as needed. This way, you can leave the lettuce growing for ages, harvesting as needed. It works well if you have a few types.

[FionaH]

Took this photo this morning so I thought I would add it to my previous reply.
may+harvest+010.jpg (image)

Thats a really good idea