If you ’ve ever looked at a seed catalog , you ’ll be bombarded with more option than you cognise what to do with . But what are the unlike lettuce commons you regain at the store ? Can you arise those yourself ? Today , I ’m breaking down the types of lettuce you may grow at dwelling and which ones I commend !
Without a doubt , lettuce is a staple in many of ourgrocery fund , garden , and fridges . We ca n’t get enough of its health , mild look , and crunch that come with a good small-arm of lettuce .
sugar plants arecool - season annualsthat are actually part of the daisy and sunflower family , Asteraceae . Typically , we turn them in springiness and fall . During the summer , weather condition are too live , and the pelf tries to bolt .
Red velvet lettuce
Bolting is when the plant flower and go to seed . At this point , the leaves usually become biting . So we require toharvest our lettucebefore then !
You have four main types of kale to develop : butterhead , crisphead , cos lettuce , and loose - folio pelf . I typically break things down into either loose - leaf or head lolly .
There are SO many unlike case of lettuce , so let ’s break thing down a bit so you’re able to figure out the dissimilar lettuce K you want to grow in your garden .
This post will cover …
Expert Tips for Growing Lettuce
Head Lettuce
nous lettuce grows intight bunches of leave . They’re round in form and can get to be the size of a human headland !
First , they form a rosette in the center . Then level of leaves maturate around it to cover the midsection . Most lettuce varieties can produce a full - sized principal when left to gain maturity date .
There ’s alsomini - head lettuce , which is much smaller . These are either reap earlier or are specific variety show of lettuce that do n’t grow as large .
Toharvest promontory lettuce , youtake the whole capitulum of sugar , cutting the root at the al-Qaida of the plant .
Different Types of Head Lettuce
Many of the most popular types of lettuce we find out in the grocery store computer memory are view head wampum . Here are some unlike types of head lettuce :
Loose-Leaf Lettuce
You ’ll often receive loose - leaf shekels in the pliant containers at the food market store . They are open leaves in loose clusters rather than a singular , large heading . They haveno dependable stemuntil the loot begin to seed , in which a magniloquent blossom emerges from the center .
The leaves of loose - leaf lettuce grow outwards from the al-Qaida . When harvested , youpick the outer edges of the plant or harvest the integral matter at once . This method of harvest home as you need makes loose lettuce preferable for abode gardener , as you do n’t have to wait for an intact drumhead before you could glean it .
This also have in mind that the parting are more perishable than the head varieties , so they’rebest eaten fresh . Many masses grow loose - leaf pelf as baby greens , which is when you sow in the seeds in a high-pitched density and harvesting when they ’re very young . Loose - leaf lolly has a much quicker adulthood time than head lettuce .
open - foliage clams comes invarious colours , such as red , green , and speckled , and flesh , including flat , crinkly , and oakleaf .
Different Types of Loose-Leaf Lettuce
Loose - leafage dinero comes in all sort of varieties , though many are lesser known than the point lettuces since we often produce them as salad mixes rather than each variety individually . Here ’s how most are broken down :
Some of the most democratic light - leaf lettuce to buy are red sails , salad bowling ball , red salad arena , merlot , and oakleaf .
Cut-and-Come-Again Versus One-Cut Lettuce
Another way to classify the unlike types of lettuce is by how you reap it . Thecut - and - come - againmethod is my personal preferent choice and how I care to grow my lettuce . Through this method , youcut the outer edges of easy - leaf cabbage as you need it . One - geld wampum is when you glean at once , typical of mind lettuce .
With cut - and - descend - again lettuce , the works willcontinue to raise after you harvest from it , as long as the basal ( independent base ) of the scratch remains intact . Lettuce for cutting - and - come - again gardens are those that regrow tight , retain flavour , and are undifferentiated in size and shape .
you may practicesuccession plantingeasily with lettuce using the cut - and - follow - again method andsowing replacement seeds once a weekfor an endless supply of greens .
My Personal Lettuce Recommendations
So what do I grow at home ? Here are unlike lolly honey oil I produce on a veritable basis :
To top it off , I also mix in baby kale , arugula , andSwiss chard .
Frequently Asked Questions About The Different Types of Lettuce to Grow
Loose - leaf scratch is estimable for beginners . It grows quickly , and you could harvest it as needed rather than waiting for a whole capitulum of sugar to form . Pests also really love sugar , so the longer growing times can be quite a detriment ; even if your head moolah is growing well , others could munch it before you get the luck to .
Look for scratch advertised as child leaf lettuce ( often on the loose - foliage lettuce ) . These types of lettuce are quick for harvesting just 3 - 4 weeks after you engraft the seeds . Then you could practice them as a cut - and - come - again garden , sowing come once a calendar week for a unvarying supply of child greens .
you’re able to grow free - leaf moolah twelvemonth - round in meek climates and maybe even in cold mood when you grow them withprotection , such as in a cloche collapsible shelter , inhuman frame of reference , orgreenhouse .
More Tips for Growing Lettuce
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