Lettuce

harvested red lettuce
harvested red lettuce

Introduction

Eating lettuce is associated with summer salads, but the plants are in fact quite hardy, with some varieties able to survive overwinter in the ground for an early spring harvest. Indeed, these winter varieties do not like the summer heat, which may cause them to bolt.

Lettuce is a relatively fast growing crop that can be tucked into corners and under tall plants like sweetcorn and brussels sprouts. Sow a few seeds every two to three weeks from spring through summer for a continuous supply and to avoid having a row of lettuces all maturing at the same time.

Planting

  • Planting depth: 1.5 cm
  • Planting spacing: 30 cm between plants, 30 cm between rows

Harvesting

  • Pick when ready
    There is a short interval between a mature lettuce and one that runs to seed, a process that turns the leaves thicker and less tasty
  • Sow little and often to extend the harvest period and avoid a glut
Sow
(inside)
Sow
(outside)
Harvest
(fresh)
Harvest
(stored)
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
= jar, = freeze, = store

Varieties

Lettuce comes in a range of shapes, sizes, and colours, and prefers to grow in a rich free draining soil. It is usually classified into four main types:

  • Butterhead
    A relatively open lettuce that does not form a tight heart with its leaves. They are quick to mature and have delicate leaves. Butterhead types can tolerate poor soils better than other varieties.

  • Cos (Romaine)
    A slower growing variety than butterhead types, cos lettuces have long stiff ribbed leaves pointing to the sky. The lettuce is often used in Caesar salad.

  • Iceberg
    Relatively slow maturing lettuces than develop a round tight heart. Iceberg lettuces are less lightly to bolt in hot weather, and have crisp juicy leaves.

  • Loose Leaf
    Similar to butterhead lettuces in that the leaves do not form a tight heart. The leaves can be curly, multi-colour, and bunch together more than butterhead types. Loose leaf lettuces can have their outer leaves harvested whilst leaving the plant in place to grow more leaves, a process referred to as ‘cut and come again’ – an easy way to extend the harvest period and save space in the garden.

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Growing

It is possible to choose varieties to grow all year round with the help of a polytunnel or greenhouse, by selecting different types of lettuce, and sowing the seed in succession (for example every two weeks) to avoid a glut.

Lettuce need regular watering, especially in hot periods, to avoid them bolting to flower. Their low growing nature means that a lettuce bed can be overcome with weeds without regular attention.

Their are two main approaches to sowing lettuce:

  • Sowing lettuces along a row (for example 1 m at a time)
  • Germinating lettuces in small pots and planting out

With the passing of the years, my approach has shifted from direct sowing in rows, towards sowing a large pot with a few seeds every few weeks (and transplanting to their final growing position when the plants have a few leaves).

When sowing in rows, I found that it took time visiting the allotment to water at the start of germination, and to sustain the seedlings in hot weather. Also, I invariably sowed more seed than I needed, and when I thinned the seedlings to create the correct spacing I was effectively throwing away seed.

By contrast, planting a pot with four or five seeds is very quick to do at home, where I can easily keep an eye on the plants every day (and water as required). There is the added advantage that the plants can grow safely without risk of being eaten by pests. When large enough to be planted out, the seeds are of a better size to survive being nibbled by wildlife.

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