Hi,
I'm in NJ and my leaf lettuce plants often bolt during the hot summer
months. On a train trip to FL last summer I saw acres and acres of
farm land with what looked like black netting ot tents over all the
crops. That made me think they were creating a cooler environment
for the crops but I have no idea what was growing.

Do you have any tricks for growing lettuce during
the hot summer months?

---pete---

On Mon, 15 May 2006 13:58:47 GMT, (---Pete---) wrote:

Hi,
I'm in NJ and my leaf lettuce plants often bolt during the hot summer
months. On a train trip to FL last summer I saw acres and acres of
farm land with what looked like black netting ot tents over all the
crops. That made me think they were creating a cooler environment
for the crops but I have no idea what was growing.

Do you have any tricks for growing lettuce during
the hot summer months?

---pete---


I am in northern NJ. I usually grow mixed greens, such as mesclun and
keep them picked, by the leaf, very often. If you stagger your
planting and re-seed every 2 weeks or so, you should have a fine
supply all season. Watch carefully for bolt and "nip it in the bud",
as it were. If you are vigilant, you can avoid bitterness.

Again, I do not grow "head" lettuce, only leaf, so your problem might
be quite different and my solution not useful.

Boron

---Pete--- wrote:
Hi,
I'm in NJ and my leaf lettuce plants often bolt during the hot summer
months. On a train trip to FL last summer I saw acres and acres of
farm land with what looked like black netting ot tents over all the
crops. That made me think they were creating a cooler environment
for the crops but I have no idea what was growing.

Do you have any tricks for growing lettuce during
the hot summer months?

---pete---

Grow them under the tomatoes, or better, under the beans, switch to a
summer lettuce variety, or better, use two summer varieties, one early
one late,
so you get two crops out of one seeding.
I use a cold hardy mix for overwintering, oak leaf for the spring and
summer, and a couple
romaine species in the spring. Even in spring, I plant a later variety
amongst the garlic,
to get a later crop. The garlic light shade delays maturity further.
I also have a spot in the herb garden, that used to be full sun but now
is part shade,
currently occupied by rapini but to be seeded with lettuce in july.

On 15 May 2006 09:29:05 -0700, "simy1" wrote:

Grow them under the tomatoes, or better, under the beans, switch to a
summer lettuce variety, or better, use two summer varieties, one early
one late,so you get two crops out of one seeding.
-------
I like the idea of planting the lettuce between my tomato plants.
I'll try that this year. Thanks

---pete---

On Mon, 15 May 2006 12:10:34 -0400, Boron Elgar
wrote:

I am in northern NJ. I usually grow mixed greens, such as mesclun and
keep them picked, by the leaf, very often. If you stagger your
planting and re-seed every 2 weeks or so, you should have a fine
supply all season.

Yeah, I do all leaf lettuce too. I start mine indoors in early march
ant they take 2 months to get to transplant size. I never seem to have
much luck with seeding direct in the garden.

What is the best technique for planting lettuce in the garden?

---pete---

"---Pete---" wrote in message
...
Yeah, I do all leaf lettuce too. I start mine indoors in early march
ant they take 2 months to get to transplant size. I never seem to have
much luck with seeding direct in the garden.

What is the best technique for planting lettuce in the garden?

I start Romaine indoors under lights about a month before setting out in the
spring. Seeds are broadcast in trays filled with potting soil, then thinned
to stand about 2" apart. I also broadcast some seed outdoors at the same
time, rake them in lightly, and cover the seed bed with a light pine straw
mulch to prevent the soil from drying. Germination takes longer sowing
outdoors but the results are usually good.

Come mid-August, I sow more seeds indoors and set out the 4" seedlings
mid-September.

As for growing lettuce in the summer; here in Zone 7 along the mid-Atlantic
US coastal plain, I don't even bother. It/s too hot and humid and besides,
my limited garden space is filled with plants that love the heat. You
might try putting a lattice over the plants to create some shade, plant them
in the shade of taller plants, or someplace where they get only the morning
sun.

--
TQ

On Tue, 16 May 2006 20:19:44 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT adelphia.net
wrote:
I start Romaine indoors under lights about a month before setting out in the
spring. Seeds are broadcast in trays filled with potting soil, then thinned
to stand about 2" apart.
-----
Lettuce plants are so delicate.
How do you separate them when it's time to plant in garden?

---pete---

"---Pete---" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 16 May 2006 20:19:44 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT adelphia.net
wrote:
I start Romaine indoors under lights about a month before setting out in
the
spring. Seeds are broadcast in trays filled with potting soil, then
thinned
to stand about 2" apart.
-----
Lettuce plants are so delicate.
How do you separate them when it's time to plant in garden?


When I say thinned, I meant that I transplant the 1-1.5" sprouts into
another tray on 2" centers.

A couple weeks later, the sprouts have b/come 3-4" seedlings ready for
hardening off.

Before I transplant to the garden, I add a little water to moisten the
potting soil so the seedlings can be gently removed from the tray.