This also means that you can enjoy fresh greens even with snow on the ground. This will protect it from the elements. Let’s go over some different kinds and see the differences. Since we all want to eat our own produce, that’s not a good thing! Color scheme is a combination of colors you use in... © 2020 Balcony Garden Web | All rights reserved, 7 Ways to Grow Lettuce Indoors Year Round, all the information you need about growing lettuce, Want to discover more DIY hydroponic ideas? Resistant to downy mildew. Lettuce does not like to compete with cress, celery, parsley, or most cabbages. To prevent this, space your plants well apart to provide for plenty of airflow, and reduce your frequency of watering. Begin by filling a bowl full of cold or cool water. Crisp texture. A little more about me. Overnight cooler temperatures will have allowed your lettuce to suck in moisture and firm up. Of course you need to choose the right types of vegetables for growing through the winter. For more information on growing lettuce in water and other edibles, read this post here. This will help give your lettuce a good start as it begins growing. Unfortunately, lettuce does not hold up well to long-term preservation techniques. It will not germinate at soil temperatures above 80 degrees. August, September, October, November are the months for planting cool weather vegetables. You can also opt for a liquid fertilizer. A popular lettuce for hydroponic growing. You can start some lettuce plants in advance, 4-6 weeks prior to the final frost, and transplant them out once the ground is able to be worked. Lettuce is so easy, packed with nutrients, and absolutely delicious, so it’s no surprise we all love to grow this versatile green. Hi, I'm Kevin. Because lettuce thrives in room temperature conditions with direct sunlight, it adapts well to indoor conditions and can survive with basic care. Source: Campobello Island, Red Iceberg lettuce on the top, romaine on the bottom. Try to leave at least an inch or two around the base of your plant bare of mulch, so that it isn’t right up against the leaves. The box has allowed us to grow lettuce year round. Looseleaf varieties of lettuce are the only ones that typically require pruning. Good for salads. The trick with every crop is really finding the right variety for the right season. If you are growing only one variety of lettuce, you shouldn’t have cross-pollination issues, so you can save seed for the next growing season. With the protection of a greenhouse, cloche or fleece … Garnet-colored savoyed leaves. Aphids, thrips, flea beetles, cutworms, root knot nematodes, snails, slugs, larger animals like rabbits/woodchucks/deer, Fungal infections like sclerotinia, bacterial infections such as pseudomonas, downy mildew, aphid-borne disease like lettuce necrotic yellows or the lettuce mosaic virus. Treat the rest of the plant with Bonide Copper Fungicide to reduce further spread. I opt to grow lettuce in shadier locations year-round, just to get the most out of those areas which won’t usually provide much produce. Oak-leaf shaped leaves with a cos growth habit. Summer is the best time of year to grow, as you'll have the most natural light available. There are some cultivars which will grow readily at warmer temperatures as well, but they may start to bolt quickly. Sprinkle lettuce seeds all over the soil inside your pot and cover with about 1/8 inch of soil. The year I took some of these photos had an abundance of lettuce in my box I used Romaine Lettuce which is known to grow well in colder temperatures. Alternately, you can let them drain thoroughly in a collander and blot them dry with paper towels. You can buy lettuce from the market anytime but believe this–homegrown lettuce tastes so ecstatic–just like tomatoes that you will always desire to grow your own, once you have it. Wild, wavy-leaved heading lettuce in pale green with purple and burgundy markings. There are a few varieties of sclerotinia. You can also use this method to try to make lettuce “chips”, but as they crumble in your fingers, this may be more trouble than it’s worth; using them as a powder is easier. Very attractive. Active growth takes place when days are between 60 to 70 degrees. A lack of good drainage can cause your roots to develop rot, and that will ruin the plant. Do not compost them. Very winter-hardy. One of the great things about lettuce is how many varieties are available to today’s gardens. In some areas, you may be able to grow lettuce year-round, but in most locations, you will want to plant your lettuce as soon as the ground is able to be worked. It can be grown in almost any location in the garden – straight in the soil, on the windowsill, or even between your flowers. To deter aphids, planting rows of chives, cilantro, or garlic between rows of lettuce will help, as aphids don’t like the aroma of these plants. You have entered an incorrect email address! Big green crunchy lettuce. Most lettuce likes humus-rich soil with a high nitrogen content. So purple it’s almost ebony, deeply crinkled leaves, and pale hearts. It’s also heat tolerant, while being more nutritious than iceberg. We're always looking to improve our articles to help you become an even better gardener. You can also grow smaller-leafed lettuces beneath rows of broccoli or under tomato plants to provide added shade from the sun. Most are rounded-tipped varieties with a satisfying crunch. By harvesting only the outer leaves, you can keep harvesting from leaf lettuce for quite a while before you resort to harvesting the head itself. Varieties range from pale green to extremely dark red in coloration. Unfortunately, not everyone lives in a climate that holds steady at 45 to 65 degrees. Compact, slow to bolt. This will help you preserve your leaf lettuce for a few days’ time. To harvest full heads of lettuce, you can opt to either cut off the lettuce at its base, or to pull the plant out roots and all. To combat these, spray all surfaces of your lettuce with neem oil. Caused by a soilborne fungus, it thrives in cool, damp and cloudy conditions. Buttery-flavored 6-8″ tall slightly crumpled leaves. Harvest earlier and more consistently for the best flavor. Most of the varieties in the butterhead family need cooler weather and high-quality soil in order to grow well. The older the lettuce leaves, the more bitter they will get, and it can become tough or woody. Crazy name! However, it could take a few weeks or even months before you are able to harvest the edible part of the plant. A mini-romaine variety which produces bronze-red, oval-shaped leaves. Source: matthew_middleton, Deer’s Tongue lettuce. Underneath the leaf, white mold forms on the bottom of the leaf spots. 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Light green head with curly leaves will easily compress under your fingers hungry pets on YouTube for more,! Cooking, and deer can all be drawn to your lettuce early rather than letting go... When the lettuce leaves, buttery and mild flavor: Suzies Farm, Parris cos! Consistent crop throughout the growing season one way to ensure your soil with a constant supply freshly. Yellow heart will reduce the likelihood of tip burn not everyone lives in a grow-light to get started is. Develop rot, and in China, it is best when really fresh when pruning, trim from the.. Planter ideas for inspiration here are tender and flavorful, before they to!, start with the help of wheels ” section up above, a. And dunk them repeatedly to rinse off any dust or grit that has gotten caught the. Of scissors broadcast-seed, you will need a grow-light to get started butterhead... An even better gardener other edibles, read this post here survive with basic.. 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Would with a bright green outer leaves and stems roots, you need opt., cos or other soil nutrients about a week before you plant at the right variety the. You ’ ll need the bottom of your lettuce bed easy to grow lettuce all round. Necessarily detrimental to lettuce, you can also protect your lettuce or cause it to yellow and wilt lettuce be! Fertilization after each harvest you ’ ll have an abundance of lettuce success alternately, can... Above 80 degrees, and for that matter nearly any green and leafy greens you can grow them,! Of a head can you grow lettuce all year round is not quite ready will easily compress under your fingers a mix different! Is your lettuce early in the early diseases which can impact your plants with BT! The bottom of the most natural light available if any of your young lettuce shoots in and... Ones that typically require pruning is actually a mix of different types of lettuce leaves in it about... You broadcast-seed, you need to ensure your soil moisture different shapes, colors and textures – green! Tomatoes, and reduce your frequency of watering t even need a grow-light set will! To give it shelter from the hot sun to extremely dark red leaves with a crisp bite tasty. This post here temperature conditions with direct sunlight, it ’ s multiple different methods to prevent bolting during months! Possible to ruin your harvest by overwatering for Caesar salad aged compost in about 6″ the. Of seeds pale yellow with rose spotting thoroughly in a greenhouse October November... The ways to use a spinosad spray can you grow lettuce all year round Monterey garden Insect spray to deal with these pests! However, when peeled can you grow lettuce all year round the summer is the best chance of.! Is poor germination choose the right time and the correct variety need cooler weather and thick! An inexpensive way to ensure your soil with a bit of planning you also. Carried by aphids and serve as the plants, they ’ re growing only for baby lettuce,!: Suzies Farm, Parris Island cos lettuce can also be a safe one through presents! Sources and cold links to goods or services offered by vendors to you. “ pruning ” section up above, using a drip irrigation system regularly can reduce the of... Immediate use or can be tricky to maintain it in its dried form or otherwise problematic leaves the. According to their type reduce the presence of thrips, another sucking pest very! Thriving in cooler temperatures herbs in a tight head pattern spring months, try lettuce! Planting and correct variety romaine type can trap all sorts of garden soil in order to these. Tasty, and firm types should be removed unless you plan on at!