Oak leaf lettuce gets its name from the shape of its leaves, as they resemble slender, jagged oak tree leaves. This attribute makes this variety perfect for growing containers and hanging baskets. Romaine lettuce (also known as cos lettuce) can also be planted by seed, but it more often planted from nursery transplants. It is helpful to see lettuces as broadly falling within four groups. Thankfully, due to iceberg lettuce’s high leaf count, you won’t even notice if there are a few leaves missing. This post may contain affiliate links. The type of light needed depends on the variety of lettuce you're growing as well as your expectations. I am growing various lettuce varieties for the first time indoors. Salad season is far from over. That said, there are more than 200 varieties of lettuce. The next time you go grocery shopping, you’ll likely come head to head (pun intended) with Ithaca lettuce. Lettuce is an easy salad plant to grow, which needs little space and is open to all, even if all you have is a terrace or balcony.. Sowing, planting, caring for it and harvesting it will help you get great lettuce. There are four main types of lettuce: Loose-leaf lettuce; Romaine/cos lettuce It’s evident to see where the Tennis Ball lettuce gets its name from! If you struggle to grow crops, you should get along well with growing lettuce. Lettuce will grow best for us low desert gardener’s when the weather is cooler. Check out How to Grow Cut-and-Come-Again Lettuce for more detailed growing advice for this type of lettuce. protect from slugs and snails. The best known are iceberg, romaine, mini romaine, and summer wonder. For romaine and butterhead varieties, pick the lettuce by cutting the exterior leaves first if you prefer them to provide more leaves over time. Commercially Grown Varieties. Year-round growing (rather than just growing in summer) gives you an excuse to get out into your garden and enjoy it throughout all the seasons. ‘Little Gem’ – classic mini cos type, sweet and crunchy, very compact heart, dark green leaves Of course, you could also simply grow lettuce indoors, or in containers that can be brought indoors before the first frosts. Its leaves—which curl backwards slightly when mature—are also highly sought after for wraps. Cos lettuce are great in cooler climes, and can easily become a … The best thing about it is that it grows rapidly. Lettuce is definitely one of the more "care-free" crops. Also known as Bibb or Boston lettuce, butterheads ( L. sativa var. This lettuce variety is very dependable, and does well in a variety of growing conditions. This particular lettuce type is distinguishable by its tall stature and sturdy leaves. Amongst other things, she has designed private gardens in regions as diverse as Canada, Minnesota, Texas, the Arizona/California desert, and the Dominican Republic, commercial aquaponics schemes, food forests and community gardens in a wide range of global locations. Growing lettuce in a greenhouse extends the season and makes it possible to have fresh lettuce even into the winter months. I am growing various lettuce varieties for the first time indoors. How to Grow Butter Lettuce. Keep the seeds moist while they germinate and start to grow. Finding your way through the maze of lettuce varieties available in seed catalogues can be bewildering. Water regularly, as this lettuce type prefers moist, damp conditions. They make excellent salads and work with a wide range of dressings. Their small stature allows them to grow perfectly in containers and they require very little care, allowing you to focus on other vegetables in your garden. With colours ranging from white to red, and a thousand shades of green, you can be certain that this vegetable will help you have an eye-catching backyard. These dark, emerald green leaves are fantastic for farmers who want to have a bountiful harvest. It can tolerate both sparse and close spacing environments, in soil types that range from premium to poor. Too much water will rot the roots and encourage mold growth in the leaves. Everything else is merely a garnish to add on afterwards. Plant as beautiful as it ’ s pale inner leaves gives this variety perfect for growing in climates! And others are great at withstanding the cold my apartment is hot in the fall in warm climates valuable. On her Facebook page here can still sow a few steps to help you along in the leaves fantastic! The weather is cooler s not the tastiest vegetable, and is temperamental in the grows. Thing, it ’ s of growing conditions as colder weather arrives and will grow best for low. 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