Leaf Lettuce Demystified

Do you ever buy a bag or even a head of lettuce from the store only to have it go bad a few days later? Not to mention it doesn't have much flavor to start with and unless you're buying iceberg, lettuce isn't very cheap. A bag of lettuce (not iceberg) typically costs $3-$4, which equates to $1+/serving. Compare that with spending $1 on seeds and having enough lettuce for 3-4 servings of lettuce every day. HUGE savings by having a garden.

Luckily, leaf lettuce is incredibly easy to grow and can produce all spring, summer, and fall. It's even a small enough plant that you could have a container garden indoors during the winter. Plus, you'll have the convenience of having a salad at your fingertips or at least right out your back door. Homegrown leaf lettuce will last up to two weeks in the fridge (if you can keep from eating it) and typically has a much better flavor than store bought lettuce.

Most people I talk to that don't grow lettuce in their gardens say it seems to difficult and they don't know enough about it. I'm here to put an end to that. Here's your quick guide to growing and harvesting lettuce!

Planting

Seeds may be started indoors for earlier crop, but transplanting can be difficult with short roots and plants have a tendency to wilt. For this reason we only use direct sow or container gardening.

Before planting, take care to till or break up soil with a shovel or hoe. Plant seeds ~1/2" deep up to 2 weeks before the last frost in rows 12-15" apart. Thin seedlings to 4" spacing once 1-2" tall. For continuous harvest plant every 3 weeks. Water generously.

*TIP- If you allow your lettuce to bolt in the fall, it will be self sowing and produce a very early crop in the spring. We have done this several years and the result has been a frost resistant sweet lettuce.

Care Tips

• Lettuce prefer moist, but not wet soil. Lettuce will also wilt when it doesn't have enough water. Be sure to water generously on hot days or day when wilting occurs.
• Weed by hand vs with a hoe. The plant roots are shallow until they begin to bolt and will be easily pulled out.
• Planting lettuce in partial shade will prolong the season and slow bolting. Full shade is not desirable.
• Use spices to deter pests if they appear. Cayenne pepper on the ground works for rabbits, ants, and other crawling pests. If slugs become a problem, vinegar can be sprayed around the plants. Another option is to set beer traps or spray slugs with coffee. The old method of picking them off by hand will always work too.

Harvesting

Leaf lettuce is ready to harvest when it reaches 6" in height, and should be harvested regularly from that point on to prevent bolting. Using a kitchen shears or your nails, cut the leaves at their bases, leaving the lettuce stem intact. Leave ~1/3 of the plant for continued growth. For best tasting lettuce and crispness, harvest in the cool of morning or evening and avoid harvesting in the heat of the day.

Once the plant begins to bolt, the leaves will become much more bitter and spiny, making them less than ideal.

Once you've picked your lettuce, you'll want to either soak or rinse thoroughly. I use a salad spinner to soak and then drain the lettuce before spinning dry. This will remove dirt, seeds, bugs, and any other undesirables. This step is essential if you do use chemicals in your garden. We are proponents of a more organic approach as leaves will pick up anything you spray, but if you choose to use chemicals to deal with pests, wash thoroughly.

*TIP - If lettuce has wilted from the garden, soak in cold water with ice for 10-15 minutes.

Once dry, enjoy in your favorite recipes or store for up to a week in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Seed Collection

Many gardeners do not let their lettuce bolt. Once it begins to bolt, they cut or pull out the plant. While this is great if you are aiming for the tidiest garden or are planning to move your lettuce patch in the future, there are benefits to letting your lettuce bolt.

One benefit is that you will not need to purchase seeds next year as you can harvest the seeds from your current plants. This is done by waiting until the lettuce bolts, flowers, and produces white tufts. Collect the seeds by pulling the tufts and gently rolling between your finger to release seeds. Another option is to pull the entire plants and hang upside down in a brown paper bag. The seeds will release and you'll be left with a bag of lettuce seeds.

Another benefit is that your plants will slowly adapt to your soil conditions. If you use seeds from your plants every year, the plant will be optimized for you yard. This results in a sweeter (less bitter) lettuce that is more resistant to pests. It also helps if you have a dry yard to adapt to higher production in dry weather. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, if allowed to bolt, your lettuce will self sow resulting in a super early crop. This is great for having lettuce year round!

*Fun Fact - Eating lettuce can be calming and reduce stress.

Uses:

 Buffalo Chicken Salad

BLTs

Lettuce Wraps (Ginger Chicken or Buffalo Chicken are our favs)

On Burgers

Salads (Why not combine with other garden greens or Squash Blossoms)

Combine with Halal Guys Style Chicken and Rice

Smoothies or Juices (Less bitter than Kale/Spinach)