HEIRLOOM SEEDS NEWSLETTER week of 05/06/01 This week, we'll talk about everybody's favorite at the salad bar - LETTUCE! No garden is complete without some type of lettuce growing, whether it's a crunchy, colorful or even buttery tasting variety! Don't forget to include some in your garden, for the freshest tasting salads ever! LETTUCE There are 4 types of lettuce, and each has the same basic growing requirements. Soil pH 6.0 to 7.0 - Sow the lettuce seed in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This occurs about four weeks before the last expected spring frost. Plant the seeds 1/8 inch deep in a wide row, 6 inches apart in all directions. Make sure the soil contains a good supply of nitrogen, which is needed for good leaf production. For an earlier crop, start the seeds indoors and transplant to the garden at the appropriate time. Lettuce needs cool weather to do well, for in warmer weather, it will turn bitter and quickly go to seed. Plant every two weeks to extend your harvest. Make your early spring plantings in a sunny location, adjusting the spot to a partially shaded location as the weather warms up. During the summer, two good spots to grow lettuce is either against the side of the house that receives the morning sun, or in the shade of taller vegetables already growing in the garden. Weed frequently, as the shallow roots of lettuce can't compete with deep ! rooted weeds. Make sure to include lettuce in your fall crop, as it is extremely productive that time of the year. Lettuce can also be grown in containers, and does well in one with a soil depth of 9 to 12 inches. LEAF LETTUCE: Of all the types of lettuce, leaf lettuce is the easiest to grow and has the most varieties to choose from. This type produces loose bunches of leaves instead of a solid head. Leaf lettuce comes in many colors and textures and should be included in everyone's garden. It is quick growing and can be grown in warmer weather than the other types. When harvesting, cut the leaves off an inch or two above the ground, and the plants will send out new leaves for a second crop. Try Black Seeded Simpson, Salad Bowl, Lolla Rosso, Oak Leaf or Prize Head. BUTTERHEAD LETTUCE: This lettuce forms small, tender, open heads that have a creamy, "buttery" center. It matures a little later than leaf lettuce and has a milder flavor. Include some in your garden for a little variety in your salads. Try Buttercrunch, White Boston, Tom Thumb (our favorite), Little Gem, Key Lime or Big Boston. ROMAINE: Also called Cos, this lettuce has upright clusters of big, crunchy leaves. The leaves are very flavorful and exceptionally crisp. This lettuce matures in 70 to 85 days. A must variety for any salad lover. Try Paris White Cos, Olga, Cimmaron, Rouge d' Hiver or Freckles. CRISPHEAD: This is the familiar "head" lettuce found in grocery stores. This variety takes the longest to grow and can be the most temperamental. Crisphead needs to mature in cool weather in order to form tight, compact heads. In many parts of the country, it is best grown as a fall crop. It is ready to harvest when the heads are solid and the outer leaves turn a yellowish green. Try Wakefield Crunch, New York #12, Great Lakes and Iceberg. LETTUCE BLENDS: These are perfect for the person who likes a variety of lettuce in their salads. Each blend provides a colorful and unique way to try different textures and tastes. Both of our salad mixes mature in 45 to 60 days. A real taste treat for any salad lover! Try Gourmet Salad Blend or Mesclun Mix Blend. PESTS: Various insects can be a problem when growing lettuce. Aphids, cabbage loopers, flea beetles, leafhoppers and leaf miners are just a few of the many pests harmful to your lettuce crop. Since lettuce does not need to be pollinated in order to produce a crop, all of these insects can be stopped by growing your lettuce under a floating row cover. That's all for this week. Happy Gardening, HEIRLOOM SEEDS