by Lis Friemoth

Greens will extend season

While some gardeners are impatiently anticipating the end of the season, there are those diehards who are searching for one more activity, one more planting or one more harvest to add to the end-of-the-season plate.

And with the onset of cooler weather (keep those fingers crossed), thinking green fits the bill. Not just any green, but a veggie with a moist and healthy crunch — Lactuca sativa or lettuce. Lettuce is not native to North America; it’s Mediterranean in origin. But it’s a simple and satisfying staple for any type of garden — be it container, raised bed, or in-ground. And lest we think the idea was ours, consider that planting lettuce is not a new endeavor. Lettuce cultivation dates back about 6,500 years to ancient Egypt.

How great is it that you can still enjoy planting and harvesting lettuce this season? A bit of attention to growing conditions and choosing the appropriate variety of lettuce will have you on your way to success. For ideal growing conditions, site in full sun to partial shade when temperatures are cool and conditions are moist — between 45 F and 70 F either in the early spring or late summer. Soil should be well-drained, loose and loamy with a pH from 6.0 to 6.5. Any lower than 6.0 and amendment may be necessary.

When temperatures are greater than 85 F, successful seed germination may not occur. If plants are already in production during periods of high heat, many varieties will quickly bolt (rapid formation of seed heads that interrupt leaf development) and end production.

Planting in late summer or early fall will take good advantage of cooler nights and lower soil temperatures. Don’t worry about a light frost or two early on, because lettuce seedlings can withstand more frost (without permanent loss) than plants at a more advanced stage of growth.

Choosing a type of lettuce is as important as providing the right growing conditions. At this time of the year, Lactuca sativa var. capitata (iceberg or crisphead lettuce) will probably not mature sufficiently before hard frosts hit.

So what to look at for success? Lactuca sativa var. crispa (leaf lettuce) which has loosely arranged, crisp leaves, can often be harvested within 30 days of planting.

Leaf lettuce varieties that have been getting rave reviews are:

• Sierra with a 45-day maturation period.
• Oak Leaf at 45 days.
• Green Deer Tongue at 48 days.
• Butterhead has similar leafing characteristics to leaf lettuce, except that the leaves are a bit softer, more tender, and quite sweet
• Tom Thumb at 46 days.
• Winter Density at 60 days and frost-resistant.
• May Queen at 60 days.

Lactuca sativa var. longfolia (romaine or cos) has a more upright structure with heavy, substantially crisp veins. Some will taste better at full maturity, while others can be picked after less than a month of growth. Try Rouge d’Hiver at 65 days, Little Gem at 28 days for mini-leaves, and Cimmaron at 58 days.

Once the type and variety is chosen, the seed should be sown one-quarter to one-half inch deep in well-worked, fertile, loose soil. Be sure to plant very shallow because these seeds definitely need some light to germinate properly.

If row planting, allow about 10 seeds per foot, thinning to encourage full plant development. Leaf lettuce varieties should be thinned 4 to 6 inches apart, 8 inches for romaine or butterhead.

Do not underestimate the container appeal of this vegetable; it is gorgeous in color and texture as it heads to harvest. So, if planting in a container, sow and then thin seedlings to three or four healthy plants per medium-sized container.

Keep all seed moist to germinate, which will take anywhere from two days to two weeks, depending on temperatures, and then mulch the plants to moderate soil temps and retain moisture.

The shallow root system requires consistent attention to growing conditions, especially moisture and weed control.

— Lis Friemoth is a horticulture diagnostician. Contact her at (262) 745-2904, P.O. Box 58, Springfield, WI 53176, visit online at www.thegardenhoe.com or e-mail her at gardenhoe@tds.net. Listen to Liz from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every third Saturday on WISN AM1130 radio.

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