Choose the right varieties and you can have lettuce almost all year round. There are so many types of lettuce to choose from – all with different colours, flavours and textures .

Choose the right varieties and you can have lettuce almost all year round. There are so many types of lettuce to choose from – all with different colours, flavours and textures .

Choose the right varieties and you can have lettuce almost all year round. There are so many types of lettuce to choose from – all with different colours, flavours and textures .

Choose the right varieties and you can have lettuce almost all year round. There are so many types of lettuce to choose from – all with different colours, flavours and textures .

Lettuce seed won't germinate well if buried too deep so cover them with about 1/4 inch of light sand or screened compost. Press them lightly on the surface to firm soil or growing media against the seed and then mist them well to thoroughly moisten. Water the seeds once or twice a day to keep them moist. Use a mister nozzle on the water hose to prevent blasting the seeds away. Keep the seeds moist until they sprout and get off to a good start. If a seed dries out at any time during the germination process it will die.

When the seedlings get their first true leaf move them to a bright outdoor location on mild sunny days. That way they will grow into stocky, strong plants.

When the seedlings get their first true leaf move them to a bright outdoor location on mild sunny days. That way they will grow into stocky, strong plants.

When the seedlings get their first true leaf move them to a bright outdoor location on mild sunny days. That way they will grow into stocky, strong plants.

I have tried many different lettuce and find that most do quite well if provided the right conditions. The leaf lettuces and Romaine type in my opinion deserve the top slots for my garden. I try a few new types each year and really prefer to have several different types growing together so my salads can be more colorful.

PLANTING ROMAINE LETTUCE SEEDLINGS

Romaine lettuce can be direct sown in prepared beds after the last frost date for your area, but planting seedlings produces salads more quickly. Lettuce seedlings also have greater frost tolerance than seedlings that have just germinated. Lettuce seedlings are hardy and can withstand ground temperatures as low as 45 degrees but ease the transition by transplanting on a cool, overcast day.

1: Be sure to Harden off romaine seedlings started indoors 7 to 10 days before transplanting. Expose them to outdoor temperatures by placing them in a protected area of your garden, increasing their time outdoors each day.

2:

Choose a spot in your garden that will get some partial shade during the hottest part of the day.

3: Before you plant your lettuce seedlings, make sure the soil is prepared. It should be loose and drain well so it’s moist without staying soggy. To keep the soil fertile, feed it with organic matter about one week before you

transplant. Provide lettuce with well-drained sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.7.

4: Dig holes in the prepared soil that are wide and deep enough to easily accommodate the romaine lettuce seedlings. Space seedlings 12 to 16 inches apart.

5: Remove seedlings from their growing container and using your fingers, gently untangle the roots. Place each seedling in a separate hole and replace the soil, tamping it down lightly with your hands.

6: Water the romaine seedlings so the soil is moist, but not soggy. After the initial watering, apply 1 inch of water to the soil each week.

Lettuce feeds heavily from the soil, so fertilize again three weeks after planting and continue throughout the growing season to provide enough nitrogen for lettuce to grow properly. Weed frequently to deter pests and give the plants the most benefit from the sunlight and soil nutrients.

PLANTING ROMAINE LETTUCE SEEDS IN THE GARDEN

Because it grows so quickly, lettuce, like spinach, is an ideal short-season vegetable to interplant between long-season vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants.

Lettuce will better tolerate heat if plants are well thinned and air can circulate around them. Spring planting should occur as soon as soil can be worked, and fall planting done around June or July.

To keep your lettuce from going bitter you need to grow it quickly. This means adding manure to the soil before planting, and keeping the water up to them as they grow. If they suffer a setback in growth they may go a little bitter or bolt to seed!

Dig the soil during the autumn or early winter.

The soil should be rich in nitrogen and potassium, The best way to accomplish this is to work in plenty of organic matter that will loosen and enrich the soil.

When directly planting lettuce seeds in your garden, use a garden rake and scrape off the soil in the area where you want your lettuce to grow.

Romaine lettuce seeds are very tiny and hard to handle

. Sprinkle seeds on top of the soil, and lightly

cover your seeds with a fine layer of soil and firm gently with the palm of your hand, to ensure contact between seed and soil. Water carefully and keep the soil moist until germination.

Cover the flat with saran wrap until the shoots start peeking through the soil.

Don’t transplant until your seedlings have one set of “true leaves”.

As your seedlings grow, continue to water them with care.

After the seedlings are a few inches tall, a layer of mulch can be put around the plants to retain soil moisture and keep the soil cool.

It's best to stagger your plantings every couple of weeks. This way, you will have a continuous supply of lettuce from late spring through late fall.

Simply divide the area where you want to plant lettuce into sections. Plant each section separately, 2-3 weeks apart

so you will have plenty as long as the season stays cool.