Lettuce Red & Green European Bouquet by Renee's Garden

START SEEDS OUTDOORS

In cool early spring weather, start seeds in finely worked soil in full sun. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows 6 to 8 inches apart or broadcast thinly in beds and cover lightly. Tend carefully and keep evenly moist. Gradually thin seedlings to stand 10 to 12 inches apart to allow heads room to mature. Make several sowings a few weeks apart until summer weather turns hot for a constantly maturing supply. Plant again in late summer for fall harvesting.

GROWING NOTES

Lettuce thrives in cool conditions with consistent moisture. Weed, water and thin carefully for best quality heads. If birds are attracted to young seedlings, cover them with floating row covers or netting.

HARVEST AND USE

Savor early young thinnings in your first spring salads. Then harvest plants either by picking outside leaves after plants are well established or by cutting mature heads. To extend the lettuce season into hotter weather, sow seeds indoors with a strong light source, or outside in containers in light shade. Transplant young seedlings into the garden, shading for a few days. Harvest while still young for best flavor. Pull and discard or compost over-mature plants if they begin to elongate (“bolt”) and get bitter in hot weather.