Lettuce Help You Start a Garden!
Have you ever considered gardening, but were too intimidated? Afraid that you will kill everything? It is easier than it seems to grow healthy, fresh food and you don’t even need a lot of space.
Springtime is the best time to start planning what you would like to grow and where. If this is your first garden, aim for plants that are easy to grow and easy to take care of. Here are a few plants that I would recommend for first time gardeners. Growing these sure fire crops this year will give you the confidence to try other crops in the future years.
Lettuce
Lettuce, versatile lettuce. It is so easy to grow and takes up little space. Lettuce should be started in spring or late summer for a fall harvest as lettuce gets bitter when the summer heats up. Leaf lettuce is easy to tuck into small spaces in your garden, in between taller vegetables or in containers. While lettuce grows fastest in full sun, it can tolerate some shade. There are 4 main types of lettuce you can grow in your garden. Iceberg lettuce tends to get a bad rap, but don’t overlook this classic. Iceberg lettuce is actually rich in vitamin K, a vitamin important for blood clotting and bone health.
Plant seeds directly in the garden a couple weeks before last frost or indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost. Lettuce seeds need light to germinate, plant 1/8” deep in well moistened, but well drained soil about 12 inches apart. Iceberg lettuce takes about 70 days to mature; harvest whole heads by cutting just above the base of the plant. The outer leaves tend be more tough and bitter, so remove them for best taste. Iceberg lettuce may be the most common lettuce consumed in the U.S., but it is not always the easiest to grow, so consider the next few types to try if you are first-time gardener.
Butterhead lettuce gets its name from its soft, buttery, ruffled leaves. While it is one of the more delicate varieties, it easy to grow and more tolerant of a variety of conditions and less likely to bolt or become bitter. Just 1 cup of Butterhead lettuce is a good source of iron, a mineral essential for transporting oxygen to various tissues in your body. It is also a good source of folate, vitamin A and vitamin K. Plant 1/8” deep in well-drained soil. Most varieties are ready to harvest in 55-75 days. Harvest by removing the entire head or just the mature outside leaves.
Leaf lettuce does not grow around a head but comes together at the stem. It varies in shape, color and texture. Crisp, ruffled with dark green or red leaves; the flavor ranges from mild to sweet. Green types tend to have more vitamin C while the red types contain high levels of the antioxidants like anthocyanins and quercetin as well as vitamin K. Both red and green types are high in vitamin A. Plant seeds outdoors 1/8” deep a few weeks before the last frost. Leaf lettuce takes about 60 days to mature, but if you prefer the delicate baby leaves, those are ready in about 45 days. Cut the plants just above the base when the leaves are around 6 inches tall and leave the base in the ground, so they can re-grow a new crop of leaves.
Romaine lettuce, also called cos, is another popular lettuce. It has large upright leaves that are crisp, tender and sweet. The crunchy white midrib is the classic characteristic of romaine lettuce. Romaine is an excellent source of folate and vitamins A and K. Vitamin A is an important nutrient for … Romine needs a little more time to mature that other lettuces, about 75 days, so it is better to start indoors to allow it enough time to mature before the weather heats up. Start seeds indoors; plant seeds 1/8” down into a good seed starting mix 4-6 weeks before last frost. Set in a place with lots of light. Transplant outside after last frost. Harvest romaine lettuce in the evening or early morning to keep the leaves crisp and unwilted, Cut off individual leaves or the entire head of lettuce at the base. If you harvest the entire head, leave about an inch of the plant in the ground so that the lettuce can regrow.
Regardless of your experience level in gardening, it’s always a good idea to consider adding lettuce to your garden. Not only is it a simple crop to cultivate, but it also makes for a great addition to any home garden.
Fun Fact!
Vitamins such as A, D, E and K are fat soluble vitamins. What does this mean? This means that when you consume these vitamins with a fat source like nuts, seeds, avocados or salad dressing you actually increase your ability to absorb these vitamins!