Lettuce is a vegetable that is found in most gardens and also does well in containers. It is easy to grow, does not require a lot of space, and the taste of homegrown lettuce cannot compare to
anything you can buy in the store.
Did you know the average American eats 25 to 30 pounds of lettuce every year. It is very popular and good for you as it is low in calories and high in nutrients, especially the darker green leaves.
To grow your own lettuce you can either start from seed or purchase young transplants in the spring. Starting lettuce from seed is not hard to do and when you start from seed the list of choices for
different varieties is much longer.
There are some seed companies that have a mixture of lettuce varieties in one packet saving the consumer from having to purchase several different packets to get a variety of lettuce.
Lettuce varieties can be broken into two basic types, leaf or head, and these are then broken down into smaller groups. The head varieties form a solid mass of leaves that are harvested after the head has formed. The most well known head lettuce would be the iceberg.
It has a firm, solid head, and the leaves are crisp. It is long lasting but it also takes the longest time to grow. Other head lettuces include the butterheads, which have a softer texture and a looser formed head. Cos or Romaine lettuce are a head lettuce with a different shape as they are more elongated and these are often used for Caesar salad. Leaf lettuce are those that grow a group of leaves and are fast and easy to grow. Some of the popular leaf types include red sails, and prizehead.
Prince George is a good place to grow lettuce as it is a cool weather crop. The seed can be directly sown into the soil in early May when the soil has warmed up. Lettuce grows well in a moist, well drained soil, that has organic matter mixed in with it and a pH of 5.5 to 6-5.
Scatter the seed in beds or rows following the directions on the seed packet. When the young plants begin to grow you can start thinning out the plants so they have enough space to grow (eight to 10 inches depending on variety).
Don't throw out the thinned seedlings as they can have the roots removed and then be eaten.
The key to growing good tasting lettuce is to keep it continuously growing. Lettuce needs a lot of moisture to grow as the plant is primarily made up of water, so don't let the soil go dry.
Nutrition is also important, so use a fertilizer high in nitrogen (the first of the three numbers found on the bag). The one thing about lettuce is it has to be used right away.
It can't be preserved in any way and only lasts so long in the garden and in the fridge.
This is why it is better to sow only a little bit at a time and also to sow different types with different
maturity times.
At home, we like to sow seeds every two to three weeks until the end of July. This way there is always fresh lettuce available. In the spring you can start lettuce in the greenhouse, cold frame, or in pots placed in a protected area of the patio. We have been growing lettuce for ourselves in pots at the south store in March and it has worked out really well. We do this until June which is when the
garden goes in.
Lettuce can be grown anywhere, from vegetable garden, flower beds, raised beds, to containers.
They do not take a long time to grow and are not bothered by a lot of pests or disease. The most common complaint would be slugs and these can be controlled especially when growing in containers.
