1 WEEK LETTUCE SEEDLINGS HOW TO

So, if you have a small window of cool weather to work with, look for a fast-maturing butterhead that is less likely to bolt.Īs a first go, head over to True Leaf Market and give buttercrunch a try. When to harvest depends largely on variety as well, as quick maturing types can be ready to pick in as little as 35 days.

Butterhead being organically grown with plenty of compost and mulch.īutterheads often do better in cooler temperatures, and may develop a bitter taste quickly once the heat arrives, although heat tolerance will vary quite a bit depending on variety.īoston, bibb, and buttercrunch are a few of the most popular varieties. And plants overall are smaller and more stout than the upright head and cos types. Leaves are tender and often mild but flavorful. Instead, it forms soft, loose heads that taste “buttery,” hence the name. Of the head-forming lettuces, butterhead is considered to be a loose-heading type because the leaves don’t form tight, hard heads, like iceberg. Read more about growing leaf lettuce here. Loose leaf varies in color from red to green, with the texture either curly or ruffled.Ī few likely familiar names in this category include arugula, endive, and mesclun. Iceberg is watery and bland in comparison. And while it has a stronger taste than iceberg, most foodies agree that after you get used to it, you can’t go back. Loose leaf is the least prone to bolt (go to seed) in hot weather and also has the highest nutritional value. The stalk will produce more leaves, which you can continue to eat.

Leaf lettuce grows up a single stalk and the outer leaves are harvested with scissors or a sharp knife, 1-2 inches above the ground. It matures in 40-45 days, but no need to wait that long to enjoy it! You can start thinning (and eating the trimmings) in as little as three weeks. Loose leaf lettuce, which refers to varieties that don’t form any type of head, is considered the easiest to grow. Then there are the head lettuces: butterhead, romaine or cos, and crisphead.Īnd each type offers a plethora of varieties, bringing an array of qualities and flavors to the table. There are four main types of lettuce, based on growth habit. Once you taste fresh picked, it will be hard for you to go back to buying the stuff in the grocery stores. And row covers can also help to keep slow-bolt varieties cool. In a sunny window, you might even have some success growing it indoors in the air conditioning. However, that doesn’t mean you have to go without fresh lettuce during the dog days of summer. That means you need to plant your crop when it’s still quite chilly in the spring and/or in the fall, after the heat of summer has dissipated. It’s funny that big strapping pumpkins and acorn squash are fragile little babies and something as delicate as lettuce is considered hardy.Īs such, this cold-hardy, leafy vegetable grows best when temperatures fall somewhere between 45 and 80☏.

1 WEEK LETTUCE SEEDLINGS HOW TO

Ready to learn how to grow your own? Let’s get started! Keep It Cold

1 week lettuce seedlings