SouthwestBlend.com presents Heirloom Lettuce.
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Heirloom
Lettuce by Judy Brady of Rusty Acres Herb Farm, Fallbrook, California
Heirloom lettuce varieties have been around for many years and have made resurgence because of health benefits and ease of growing. Available in many colors, the traditional green is no longer the standard when it comes to heirloom lettuce. They come in an array of colors: lime green, speckled green, chartreuse, burgundy red, crimson, fire engine red and speckled red as well as varieties such as butterhead, romaine, looseleaf and oakleaf.
Lettuce is very hardy and can be planted in the cool weather. It makes its best growth at temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees. Sow every three weeks for a continuous supply of fresh lettuce. It can be grown in a pot by your back door and since it grows rapidly you can start harvesting 30 to 40 days after you plant your seeds or a seedling. If you are looking for volume just use a bigger pot or plant several pots.
A simple tip to a successful crop is to amend heavily with an organic planting mix, or if you are planting a pot use, a good organic potting soil. Add a generous amount of organic fertilizer to the soil. When you are ready to harvest the lettuce start from the outer leaves and work inwards.
Lettuce salad mixes are available in seeds from many
different seed suppliers. These seed mixes give you a variety of lettuces
and greens that can be harvested in 3 to 6 weeks. There are currently
hundreds of varieties to choose from but here are some favorites:
Australian Yellow leaf is a very tender texture with a unique color that
is almost chartreuse. The plant grows very large and is slow to bolt.
Dano Red Oakleaf has a red wine color.
Forellenschuss is a romaine heirloom with splotches of maroon.
Lolla Rosaa is a magenta frilly leafed with mild flavor.
Outredgeous is also a red romaine with big, tall heads.
Royal Oak Green Oakleaf is a dark green and slow to bolt lettuce.
Tom Thumb is the size of a tennis ball. Creamy yellow, crumpled leaves
that make a delicious gourmet salad, a good container variety.
There are many more varieties. Most lettuces like to grow in the cooler
months of the year in Southern California, however there are some
varieties that can be grown in the hot summer but do best in a shady area
without full sun.
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