Lettuce
There are over 50 varieties of plants used in salads. What's available in most grocery stores is just a couple of choices, so growing your own salad greens is a great idea. You can grow the varieties you see in the store like Romaine, Red Leaf, Green Leaf, Butter, Arugula, Garden cress, Endive, Mustard Greens and Kale. If you are a little adventurous you can purchase a packet of mixed salad greens and surprise yourself and your family with all the new flavors you probably wouldn't purchase at the store.
Growing Lettuce and Salad Greens
There are 4 basic types of lettuce. Crisp (which is the most difficult to grow), Butter lettuce (loose heads with green outer leaves and yellow inner leaves), Loose leaf (form rosettes rather than heads) and Romaine (grows erect with green outer leaves and white inner leaves). Lettuce grows well in loose well drained fertile soil. Plant in partial shade if growing in hot summer weather. Plant lettuce in rows 8-12 inches apart in open ground just after last frost. Cover seeds lightly with soil. Water regularly but feed lightly. Lettuce can be started indoors and transplanted outside when grown in short summer climates. Lettuce can also be grown in containers 8 inches wide and 6-8 inches deep.
Harvesting Lettuce and Salad Greens
Harvest loose leaf lettuce as needed. Head lettuce should be harvested when the heads have formed and are firm when squeezed. Pick whole heads of both head and leaf lettuce before the seed stalks breakthrough.
Pests in Lettuce and Salad Greens
Cooking with Lettuce and Salad Greens
For great salad recipes like Asian Style Salad, Caesar Salad, Butter Lettuce Salads, Cobb Salad, Chef Salad, Arugula Salad, Garden Salads and Watercress Salad click here.
Nutrients in Lettuce and Salad Greens
Riboflavin
Vitamin A, B6, C, K
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Copper
Thiamin
Folate
Iron
Potassium
Manganese
There are 4 basic types of lettuce. Crisp (which is the most difficult to grow), Butter lettuce (loose heads with green outer leaves and yellow inner leaves), Loose leaf (form rosettes rather than heads) and Romaine (grows erect with green outer leaves and white inner leaves). Lettuce grows well in loose well drained fertile soil. Plant in partial shade if growing in hot summer weather. Plant lettuce in rows 8-12 inches apart in open ground just after last frost. Cover seeds lightly with soil. Water regularly but feed lightly. Lettuce can be started indoors and transplanted outside when grown in short summer climates. Lettuce can also be grown in containers 8 inches wide and 6-8 inches deep.
Harvesting Lettuce and Salad Greens
Harvest loose leaf lettuce as needed. Head lettuce should be harvested when the heads have formed and are firm when squeezed. Pick whole heads of both head and leaf lettuce before the seed stalks breakthrough.
Pests in Lettuce and Salad Greens
- Aphids are present when foliage curls, puckers and turns yellow. Vigorously spray infected leaves with water.
- Sails and slugs are present when leaves have large ragged holes. The best method for ridding snails and slugs is to pick them out of your garden each morning.
Cooking with Lettuce and Salad Greens
For great salad recipes like Asian Style Salad, Caesar Salad, Butter Lettuce Salads, Cobb Salad, Chef Salad, Arugula Salad, Garden Salads and Watercress Salad click here.
Nutrients in Lettuce and Salad Greens
Riboflavin
Vitamin A, B6, C, K
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Copper
Thiamin
Folate
Iron
Potassium
Manganese
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