Cultivating Lettuce
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DanH
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Apr-16-2005 at 7:39pm
Hello folks, I'm hoping somebody can offer some tips on cultivating lettuces.
I have a patch of yard that is completely unused because it's very much shaded over by my back deck and the nearby apple tree. If memory serves, lettuces do well in a shady environment and I was wondering if this patch of yard might be suitable for a lettuce garden? I'd like to plant a number of varieties of lettuce, probably in pots, in this area, which gets filtered sunlight and no direct light at all.
I can get them off to a good start in the cold frame but was wondering how much light they really need in order to thrive well in this microclimate.
Any advice? Thanks!
trav
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Apr-17-2005 at 1:21am
I don't believe lettuce will do well in a shady environment. You may be thinking about how southern gardeners grow lettuce under shade frames - but the single reason for doing this is to protect the plants from the intense heat of southern summer.
In our area lettuce does best with lots of light and mild temperatures.
Travis
gary
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Apr-18-2005 at 6:02pm
Dan,
Trav is right when he says, "In our area lettuce does best with lots of light." An article vegetables in the shade in the May 1998 Kitchen Garden(er) magazine states the problem twice, "1. Plants that appreciate afternoon shade in Atlanta may need all-day sun in Vancouver. 2. (A)n hour's sun in Seattle hasn't the candlepower of the same hour of sun in Miami."
However, you are not trying to grow corn or tomatoes in your shady area. If anything will work there, some lettuces will. Think about gathering light; lots of leaves with lots of surfaces help. The leaf lettuces (vs. head), kale instead of cabbage, etc.
Another way to look at all crops is that those who produce a large sweet fruit need the most sun. This is so true that (in other areas of the country) lemons get barely by with 6 hours of light while other citrus need 8-10-12 hours. I have grown 'decent' crops of potatoes where I would not try tomatoes though they are the same family and at times leaf surfaces.
Will you get plants as large, as many harvests in a "cut 'n come again", etc., NO! My mother's garden proved this to me some years ago when I saw the physical size difference in cabbage family plants in her 12 hour june sun vs. my 6-hour garden. But I do believe that you will get some lettuce.
For those of you (unlike Dan and I) with lots of sunlight, plan your garden with the sun/heat zones in mind. I always put my tomato/melon/etc crops in the 'eastern side'/ PM sun(heat) part of the garden. Lettuces, coles, etc, I put in morning sun beds.
After worrying about a bed of lettuce bolting on me last year before a mid-July Groom's Dinner in the yard, this year I intend to plant pole beans in front of that cycle of lettuce.
Of course, we could have cold/wet weather before late July this summer and warm/dry Aug/Oct, unlike last year.
On Trav's site you'll see him recommend that you sow some lettuce at the first on every month through your winter crop in August. That is good advice what ever you sun/shade conditions are. Just remember that 'low sun' areas will require MORE plants/space for the same amount of harvest.
Gary
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Aug-08-2005 at 10:51am
So I see the headline here and I was kind of hoping you all would talk about what types of lettuce you grow. I have always enjoyed growing lettuce but have do not remember what Igrew before and liked. So what I am saying is what is a good tender lettuce. I like tender and flavor but no bitter in my lettuce (oddly enough I like bitter foods but not in my lettuce). In Mi we did grow lettuces that we really liked but cannot remember what they were. Also is there a diff between tender and just downright soft?
~BakingBarb
cjmiller
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Aug-08-2005 at 3:03pm
I also think the way you prep it has lots to do with the taste and texture. Mine seems to do best when soaked in cold water for about 20 minutes, then break off each leaf and wash it again. put it in the spinner and then place the clean plumped leaves in a plastic container with a tight fitting lid. I do this with Cos, Outredgeous, Freckles, and Butterhead with good results. How does one differentiate between soft and tender? Carol
Bill
Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills
Posted: Aug-08-2005 at 8:29pm
I know very little about gardening compared to most people who have responded to this thread but I'd like to add that my entire garden only gets a few hours of sunlight a day yet my Mesclun grows just great! Some Mesclun is in filtered light and some gets a few hours direct daily, but none is sun-bathing.
I been enjoying lots of salads for awhile now and my real big row of Mesclun that I planted real late is not even ready yet.
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Aug-09-2005 at 10:29am
Years ago, I was told that its best to harvest lettuce early in the day before the juices rise or else the lettuce could be bitter. I can't remember who, when or where I heard this so I don't know how accurate this info is. Also, since it was some time ago, I'm not sure if I'm remembering correctly. Has anyone else heard this? Is it legitimate advice? TIA
michelelee
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Aug-09-2005 at 7:59pm
I've heard in summer months, lettuce can be grown in part shade to avoid the heat. I think this is the time of year to sow lettuce seed for fall crops. With it cooling down, (well not lately) I would give it at least 4-6 hours of sun as your plants will be coming on in the fall.
Michele
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Aug-09-2005 at 9:28pm
Lisa, I have heard that also although I extend it to any cooler time of day which includes the pm. As for shade, in hot climates they recommend you use shade cloth or grow it in filtered shade of say, corn or a trellis of greenbeans.
~BakingBarb
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
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