lettuce

I was wondering today how many people still grow lettuce in straight rows. When I started this particular garden five years ago lettuce was one of the first crops that I decided was more effectively grown in containers or simply dotted about the plot. As I mostly grow loose-leaf types this is easy but I even have cos and other hearting types growing in pots or interspersed among other veg.

Lollo rossa, my favourite. It looks like a plant pot with an afro haircut!

Webbs wonderful. You can just pick the leaves or wait for it to heart up

Endives. Not quite lettuce but close enough

Romaine Ballon. A huge cos type lettuce with heads weighing up to two pounds (1kg)

As well as the varieties shown above I also grow Winter Density and A.Y.R. for use in the colder months. Some of these survived last winter in the unheated greenhouse when outside temps dipped to -18 and then they perked up in February to give us a very early crop. 

I tend to eat a little bit most days, either in a sandwich for lunch or as a garnish. The loose-leaf types are much better for this as you can just keep picking off leaves over a long period so you don't have to sow more than you need. I have a strong suspicion that more lettuce gets wasted than gets eaten because people sow far more than they can cope with. Sowing individual seeds is a bit of a faff as they are quite small but it's quite easy with a bit of practice and if you grow in pots it's the only way.

Here's another interesting fact. When I was a young chap I went out with a student nurse called Lettuce. I wonder if she grows her own veg?