Vegetable of the week - Lettuce

[forestdale]

Leaf, Cos and Butterhead lettuce can be planted anytime in the spring. If you want a continuous supply, sow your seeds at 10 - 14 day intervals. Lettuce doesn't like very hot conditions.  It will bolt to seed and the leaves you get will be bitter.  If you live in a hot area, it would be wise to plant your lettuce where it will get shade from around 2pm onwards.

Watering it essential for lettuces to grow well.  You'll need to water it in the morning, probably every second day. You should check your local conditions and adjust that timeframe to suit.  The lettuces should never dry out completely.  Just remember that lettuces are made of mainly water, so if you give them frequent waterings, they'll grow well.

Keep the weeds well away but make sure that when you weed or cultivate around lettuce to protect the roots. Lettuce has a fairly shallow root system so be careful when working closeby.

It's a really good idea to mulch around your lettuce.  Not only will that keep away the weeds it will also conserve water so that your lettuces will stay moist without constant watering.

When you harvest your lettuce, wash it under the kitchen tap and shake off excess moisture. Place it in a plastic bag and seal it.  Lettuce will keep in the vegetable crisper of your refrigerator for a week but as with all vegetables, you'll get the maximum vitamens and minerals if they are eaten fresh.

The nutritional value of lettuce varies with the variety. Lettuce in general provides small amounts of fibre, some carbohydrates and protein. The most important elements in lettuce are potassium and vitamen A.  Most lettuces also contain a fairly good source of vitamen C and some iron, copper and calcium.  The darker the lettuce leaf the more nutritional element it will contain.

Recipe for lemon and herb dressing for lettuce

1/2 a lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch sugar
20 chives, chopped or snipped
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

Whisk lemon juice, mustard, and sugar together in a bowl. Add chives and whisk in oil in a slow stream. Season dressing with salt and pepper.

[Heather]

Thanks so much Rhonda....I learned alot!

[halo475]

I just planted my first batch of lettuce last week, and plan on planting a second batch in 10 days or so. The first batch is up and growing like weeds