Lettuces are annual, low-growing plants; they usually have green leaves, although some cultivars have red or reddish-green leaves.
There are several distinct types, Cos (romaine) lettuces have long, substantial, well-flavoured leaves with fairly loose hearts; semi-cos are shorter with very ... Read review
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A review by SnowiestElf on Lettuce January 29th, 2006
Author's product rating:
Performance
Ease of use
Value for money
Advantages:
Easy to grow, many varieties available, tasty addition to sandwiches and salads
Disadvantages:
None
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Lettuces are annual, low-growing plants; they usually have green leaves, although some cultivars have red or reddish-green leaves.
There are several distinct types, Cos (romaine) lettuces have long, substantial, well-flavoured leaves with fairly loose hearts; semi-cos are shorter with very sweet, crunchy leaves. Butterhead lettuces have smooth, soft leaves, forming a rounded, compact heart; crispheads (known as icebergs when marketed with the outer leaves removed) have crispy leaves forming a heart. Loose-leaf lettuces, typified by the "salad bowl" types, do not form hearts so are slow to bolt and may be cut over a long period; their leaves are often indented and are very decorative. They are the most nutritious form of lettuce and may also be used for cut-and-come-again seedling crops.
Lettuces vary from 10cm (4in) to over 30cm (12in) in spread. The cos types are about 25cm (10in) tall, others about 15cm (6in) high. Lettuces are primarily used as salad vegetables, but outer and older leaves may also be cooked or used in soups.
Lettuces are cool-season crops, growing best at 10 - 20 degrees celsius (50 - 68 degrees fahrenheit). Cool nights are essential for good results. Some cultivars are tolerant of heat or frost. Germination is poor above 25 degrees celsius (77 degrees fahrenheit); at these temperatures, plants tend to bolt rapidly and may become bitter, although loose-leaf lettuces are slower to bolt than other types.
Grow in an open site, or in light shade in very hot weather. Lettuces need fertile, moisture-retentive soil and, although they fall into none of the rotation groups, should not be grown in the same patch of soil for two years in a row to prevent the build-up of fungus disease. They require medium nitrogen.
--------------------------------------------------------------- SOWING AND PLANTING ---------------------------------------------------------------
Cultivars appropriate for the season must be sown. For a year-round supply in cool climates, sow from early spring to late summer at two- to three-week intervals. At the end of summer or in early autumn, sow hardy cultivars that overwinter outdoors or under cover for a spring crop. In warm climates, only heat-tolerant cultivars should be sown during the summer.
In cool climates, sow seed in situ, in a seedbed, or in trays or modules for transplanting. Sowings in summer are best made in situ, since seedlings wilt when transplanted unless they have been raised in modules. Seed may become dormant in high temperatures; this is most likely to occur several hours after sowing and may be overcome by watering after sowing to cool the soil, by putting seed trays or modules in a cool place to germinate, or by sowing seed in the afternoon so that the critical period occurs at night when temperatures are lower.
Transplant lettuces in moist conditions when they have five or six leaves, with the base of the leaves positioned just above soil level. In hot weather, shade young plants until they are established. Space small cultivars 15cm (6in) apart, and larger ones about 30cm (12in) apart.
Sow hardy cultivars for overwintering outdoors in situ or under cloches or in frames; thin to about 7cm (3in) apart in autumn and to the full distance apart in spring. Floating mulches or cloches put over the plants in spring improve their quality, and help them to mature earlier.
Most types of lettuce may be grown as cut-and-come-again seedling crops, especially loose-leaf types, including the traditional European "cutting" cultivars, and some cos types.
Keep lettuce beds weed-free. Apply a nitrogenous fertilizer or organic liquid feed if growth is slow. In dry conditions, water the plants at a rate of 22 litres/sq m (5 gallons/sq yd) per week. The most critical watering period is about seven to ten days before maturity. In late autumn or early winter, protect lettuces with cloches to improve the quality of the crop.
--------------------------------------------------------------- BUGS AND DISEASES ---------------------------------------------------------------
Birds may attack the seedlings. Some cultivars show aphid resistance and others show some tolerance to mosaic virus and downy mildew.
--------------------------------------------------------------- GROWING UNDER COVER ---------------------------------------------------------------
In cool climates, earlier lettuce crops may be obtained by sowing or planting in early spring in an unheated greenhouse, beneath cloches or perforated fleecy films, or in cold frames. Some cultivars may also be grown under cover in winter for early spring cropping; for mid-winter crops, gentle heat is usually required.
--------------------------------------------------------------- HARVESTING AND STORING ---------------------------------------------------------------
Loose-leaf lettuces should be ready about seven weeks after sowing, butterheads after 10 or 11 weeks, and cos and crispheads after 11 or 12 weeks. Cut cos, butterhead, and crisphead types soon after maturing to prevent bolting. They may be stored for a few days in a refrigerator. Pick the leaves of loose-leaf types a few at a time, as required, since they do not store well, or cut across the plants 2.5cm (2in) above soil level, leaving the stumps to resprout within a few weeks.
Advantages: Fresh all the year round Disadvantages: You may have to get your fingers dirty
...There is a lettuce for every location, in every season.
Lettuce will grow in conventional garden soil. Aspen states the obvious. Lettuce will also grow in a gro-bag, or in a pot, on any soil-based or soil-less compost. Lettuce will grow in a tub on the patio, in a pot by the back door, in a window-box, on a balcony, on a roof-garden, or even on the lavvie window-sill.
If you have none of these, you are an alien, and don’t deserve lettuce.
Cos ... ...are.
Want to grow lettuce out of season? Got a bright windowsill? Try Little Gem (a small Cos variety) at any time of year. Use young. The small young leaves are the tastiest anyway, and they may not heart in the winter months. Who cares? Use the young leaves and sow some more. It’s gotta be better than the limp, chemically-preserved supermarket pre-washed, bagged leaves.
Fancy a bit of colour? The red-tinged Lolla Rosso which you pay premium prices ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: salad days are nearly here Disadvantages: Slugs may eat mine first
Lettuce let me brag and be big headed I usually do not buy a single lettuce from the shop after May. I usually successfully grow more than ample even giving some away. Let me not mislead you my garden is not massive. I think it is wonderful others might not. T hey might come and cut my meadow, spray it with pesticide grow things in straight lines. Not my kind of gardening.
Anyway back to lettuce I sowed some lettuce seeds in the greenhouse last ... ...it is not a hearting lettuce you just pick the individual leaves and takes a long time to go to seed. Excellent if you only want a leaf or two to add to a sandwich. I do grow other kinds of lettuce to ring the changes I also grow winter density a cos type lettuce and sometimes little gem the little gem is not so good went to seed quickly. Did you know lettuce cooked with peas and thyme tastes wonderful? Does anyone know a good lettuce soup in case ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Fresh salad leaves for 6 months. Disadvantages: None
...spicy leaves with a mix of red and green colours. Green salad leaves contain some vitamin c, iron and zinc which we all need as part of a healthy diet and virtually no calories so we can eat as much as we like so long as we go light on the dressings! One bowl full of leaves counts as one of the five recommended portions of fruit and veg although I'm not sure I eat quite that much in one sitting.
Catalogne is a large, brilliant green, oak leaf shaped lettuce with a delicate, nutty taste.
Cocarde is a red oak leaf shaped lettuce with a sweet taste.
Lollo Rossa has a red frilly leaf which is sweet and slightly mustardy.
Grand Rapids is light green, wide leafed with frilly curled edges, with a mild, sweet crisp taste.
Rossa di Trento has broad green leaves fringed with red. It is a crisp and sweet lettuce.
Red Salad Bowl has a red...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Fresh leaves when you want them Disadvantages: Pack size is too small
...love the idea of a growing salad because nothing is quite so tasty as freshly picked food. I do hope that Tesco persist with this product because I think it is worthwhile but only if it provides a good helping of leaves.
Would I recommend it?
=
Yes if you live alone and want fresh leaves in your salad but if you want to feed a family you would be better going to your local farm shop and buying freshly picked lettuce....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Goes well with chicken. Medicinal value Disadvantages: Strong
...various soups such as Lettuce and Tarragon soup.
You can buy this versatile herb in both fresh and dried forms. Look for fresh looking,crisp and bright tarragon and store it in a air-tight jar or in wet form....
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