An old lady in Cyprus taught me to wrap my lettuce (and other green leaves) in a damp tea towel before storing them in the fridge. They stay crisp and fresh for up to two weeks. Just make sure you keep the tea towel damp (but not wet)
Alyssum... What a great idea! Fragrant, low ground cover (can be given "haircuts"), attract the insects we DO want ... and don't compete much for nutrients! Win, win, win.... Thanks, Ben! 😊
A tip I have about aphids, is to have a garden Nasturtium growing in your garden. It attracts aphids like crazy and ever since I started to grow one, I never had any aphids on the other plants anymore.
I wish I could give you another thumbs up, since this is my second time watching this episode. I need to get my gardening notebook out and take notes, because you have SO much knowledge to share. Thank you for your interesting videos, I enjoy them very much!
I grow a 2-sided trellis, making an A-frame structure for my sweet peas, and under it I plant lots of lettuces. It works beautifully, they're shaded by the sweet peas and pests don't usually find them. Thank you for yet another lovely, encouraging and informative video!
You can plant lettuce at any time. For instance, I just planted my Romaine lettuce. But because the hot weather is coming, I planted them under the shade of a Maple tree. The shade will keep them cool during the hot weather.
Good tip when watering small to medium pots or cell trays...hold the pot/cell to be watered over another pot that also needs watering and allow the top pot/cell to drain to the one below. This not only saves water, it also means you save on watering time. Fresh water is precious to us and our vegetables.
I'm in western North Carolina, Zone 7B, and grow Buttercrunch and Romaine in a cold frame all winter. I start from seed in late September. Light bulbs inside and and a tarp on the outside for nights below 26 degrees has kept my lettuces and radishes in perfect shape. No bug problems this time of the year :)
Butter crunch lettuce, romaine, red leaf, one package of mixed too. All from seed. Grow super well up here near Seattle WA. I have been planting alyssum, zinnia, and nasturtiums with my veggies for years. Attracts pollinators and is attractive in appearance and no aphids!
I'm in NZ and currently have a lovely crop of butter lettuce nearly ready to harvest. I can't believe how much they taste like butter 💛 I picked my last frilly lettuce last night for tea. It's so rewarding growing your own food 💚
Love homegrown lettuces. Lettuces are very forgiving about being transplanted. In summer, I definitely grow in shade and I sow more often, so I have young lettuces when the older ones bolt. For sow bugs and slugs, I grow individual lettuces in their own pots that sit above the ground. I usually let a few lettuces go to seed each year and end up with lots of seeds and volunteers, which I transplant and grow on. We just harvest lettuce when we are eating it. I actually just graze in the garden, a few leaves each day.
We have romaine,.lollo rosso,.lollo verde,.oak leaf types growing now. We also use a media low in Nitrogen but higher in calcium to get them going and provide crisp leaves, we found this reduces aphid pressure too. We also supplement a comfrey FPJ/ Tea which we use in drip
Extremely helpful Ben! I also really appreciate you referencing seasons like early, mid, late winter etc as opposed to specific months. Adored the footage of the hedgehog too 😊Many thanks from Australia!
Very helpful. The Allysum tip is just what I needed having lost nearly all my lettuce to bugs and slugs last year. I use garlic and marigolds in the greenhouse in a similar way for my tomatoes and cucumbers etc
I'm looking forward to the assylum tip this year. We grow for 4 families in Wisconsin, USA. With increased food and petrolium prices this year, we are increasing the area under cultivation. Instead of single seed types, we will probably plant mixes of lettucices, mustards, kales, etc. We generally start seeds inside and plant plugs in no dig raised beds.
Great video, hadn't realised they didn't like the hot weather so, will rethink were I'm going to plant them this season, thanks for sharing & take care 🙂
Very informative video as usual Ben, thank you from Central Coast Hinterland, NSW, Australia! For storing lettuce & green veggies I wrap them in a bit of paper towel before putting in a plastic bag in the fridge-it absorbs excess moisture & keeps them humidified.
Hi, I'm in Saskatchewan, Canada right in the middle of winter, so I love hearing about cold weather crops. Just wanted to agree that after washing my lettuce and spinning it dry, it keeps very well in a large plastic container with paper towels between layers.
Another well explained interesting video thank you! Congratulations on your journalistic award, well deserved ! Really looking forward to next video! ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ 🥇
For the first time ever I managed to grow some Buttercrunch lettuce this year. I planted in late January. Protecting from our North Texas ice storms provided plenty of challenge, but I manage to grow a number of the Buttercrunch and Red Romaine variety from the seedlings purchased from a local feed store. It is early May and I have just harvested the last of the Buttercrunch. I'll be growing this again for certain. Not certain if growing this into the winter will work her but I'm going to try. It can remain in the 80degree Fahrenheit range into December.
Rob...that was great information on Alyssum! I did not know it attracted beneficial predators...I will be sure to add that to the mix! I like to direct sow salad mixes...I love the variety but my favorite lettuce is buttercrunch. Thank you for all you do!
Thank you Ben for putting out so many wonderful and entertaining videos they never fail to put a smile on my face. I live in the Williamette Valley in western Oregon and have a huge success of slug control by using the powdered egg shells from my chickens I have. It works wonderful and costs me nothing I my husband gets the nice cold beer. =)
Lettuces are my favorite green to grow...but I never have luck with starting them inside. I like all kinds! Slugs are a BIG problem where I live...Thanks for the tips!
You are very good with your lettuce!! I planted mine out in the heat, in S France and wondered why they didn't come up - my hubby took me for a fool - this is my 1st full year of growing and they grew really well in Wales years ago!! Thanks for the tips!!!!!!! I will grow indoors early along with the peppers, next year.
Ben, I'm with you on the deliciousness of home grown lettuce. I enjoy growing loose leaf lettuces.🙂 Not too sure on all the varieties I'll grow this year...one I try to grow each year is Black Seeded Simpson. Looks like Rosie was giving you a hand on pruning a bush or two.🙂 Looking forward to your next video...I'm learning a ton!👍 Oh, like the beard...looks good on ya!
Loose-leaf is great, and I get good results with all those varieties. But a nice head of lettuce (or several) would be great, too, including the much-maligned (by "foodie" snobs) Iceberg variety, which really can't be beat for crispiness; perfect sandwich additions. But I just can't seem to make those work. I'm thinking timing is crucial with those, coupled with cooperation from Mother Nature. If it heats up too much too soon in the spring, you're just out of luck. Gonna keep trying, though.
Frank - definitely keep trying. Your patience will be rewarded I'm sure. Valorie - thanks for the kind words. Not sure about the beard but will keep experimenting!
I love Romaine and Bibb lettuces, especially for sandwiches. I am like their cut-and-come-again harvesting qualities. I also enjoy the iceberg lettuces as they add a pleasant crunch to salads.
Another helpful video, Ben. I especially like growing arugula because it's so flavorful and so expensive in the stores, yet so easy to grow. I've had some giving us delight in a covered bed all winter so far.
I never knew alyssum helped to attract beneficial insects like that! I love it for its own sake but will definitely put some in between the vegs now as well as in flower containers. Thank you. Sweet channel.
Wow 10 months ago i put a comment in and it is May - I have wonderful lettuce everywhere this year. I started them in a cold frame and then the tunnel and after that outside - so pleased. Cold so far this year - started off with a soft lettuce and then a variety called Black Simpson loads to eat!!
One day I plan to have a green house. Until then I just sow lettuce in late Feb or early March. I do start my heirloom tomatoes. In Feb and keep under a grow light. Right now I have some wonderful herbs on the windowsill. But I will replace them with some lettuce soon. Thanks for the tips on the flowers. I try to keep them in my garden. It really helps . As always, I have learned something from your vid. We are snowed in and frozen here now. But I dream of the warm soil and bare feet ! Lol Have a blessed Sunday all. I like spring mix lettuce
Never had much luck with direct sowing lettuce here in southeastern US. But now I think I will try planting in pots until they are well developed. And try the companion plants once they are in the ground. Alyssum, who knew??? Thanks for the tips!
This is my first season growing lettuce and I only just saw this. So glad I had my planting right! I live in a warm climate and planted a "wall" of sugar snap peas to shade them.
perfect timing on this video! im doing some of these this year. im glad to have found your video on the companion planting from before too for these bibbs and my tomatoes.
i like growing many many types of lettuce and having a mixed bag of leafs. Wonderful crisp leaves all year long! we just started to hvest them this year! And we cant of planted them that long ago.
I love lettuce and I tend to grow quite a few different ones . They taste so different from the ones in supermarket . I like to keep the seeds too . I grow old varieties.
I'm on the Northern coast of BC 🇨🇦 (zone 7b) and am starting to realize that my lettuce methods last growing season while fairly productive (didn't buy lettuce for about 3 months while having a big salad with dinner a few times a week) could definitely be better! Thanks for the info 👍
I find that tuna cans are the right size for slug traps - cover to protect from rain. Place washed lettuce in the middle of a tea towel and (holding the corners), fling it down to spin out the water, best done outside.
I love your videos. I've grown lettuce for years but didn't realise they were cold weather crops! I live in Cornwall now and have some in the poly tunnel. I'll look for a shadier place for the next lot!
I've grown for the first time.... gem lettuce 😋 sown straight into trough in April under cloche, I'm taking first picks today, i couldn't be more proud😇. Cheer's Ben, amazing advice and videos..a big shout out to my green garden friend Hollie B in Surrey who has given me the kick I needed
Another fine video. Love your new (to me) look. I grow lettuce in my house. My dogs love lettuce in their soup so I need a lot. I like the red types like red sails. I also grow lots of Japanese cabbage that are more like lettuce in texture. They grow extremely fast and I do cut and come again. My replacement for Cos... I also love Tatsoi I grow that year round. Indoors and in my greenhouse.
I recently slowly shoveled mulch onto my rose bush like rain to remove tons of larva in a desperate attempt. It worked! The larva couldn't hold onto the stalk with the shards of mulch raining on them over and over. It buried them underneath the rose itself. A two in one hack for trying on your sturdier plants like my young rose. In two weeks the suffering leaves are gone and a half dozen baby pink blooms are showing off!
Hi. Here in Napier New Zealand I grow or more correctly allow to grow a self sowing plant known locally as Miners/Mynahs Lettuce. Once you allow it to seed it reappears each winter and spring. Since I realised how easily lettuces will perpetuate themselves I’ve always allowed my other lettuce varieties to flower and seed. Buying or sowing lettuce seeds or plants is almost a thing of the past. When the new plants appear, all over the garden, just transplant them to where you want to them to develop. I love your entertaining and informative videos and great suggestions.
I live in Central Texas so I think it might be hard for me to grow lettuce in the hottest months but I'm excited to practice sowing lettuce through spring, fall, and part of winter! Here we can grow kale, collards, and bok choy easier. I'm trying to get some spinach in before it gets too warm here. yesterday it was 82F and today we have freezing rain haha
Making me anxious. I am in USA, Southern Indiana. It gets cold here,with snow,sleet,etc. My Dad always planted loose leaf lettuces in a cold frame on Valentine's day. Black seeded Simpson was one of his (and my) favorites. But I also love Romaine. Meant to build a cold frame last year,but got too busy. I need to get busy!!!! Thanks again for your videos.
Interesting. I figured aphids just didn't exist where I am, but maybe it's because I have alyssum, calendulas, and zinnias in my garden. I tried slug traps this past year, but since I combined it with other control methods I'm not sure how successful it was. The slugs cleared up, though. :)
Great ideas. I have arugula growing in Georgia, USA in an outdoor raised bed and it is impervious to the below freezing temps that we have been having!
I’ve been growing Landis lettuce all winter under my hoops, it’s such a delicious and tender almost buttery leaf, I recommend them highly! Landis is bred for growing in cold weather.
I've had the pleasure of using garden planner for years and I hope to take advantage of the when to plant/harvest guide. My lettuce has always been bitter and after watching this video I'm certain it's because I plant in direct sunlight and when it's super hot out🤦🏾♀️. I live in Missouri.
Hi Ven, thanks for your terrific videos! I've been growing Summer Crisp lettuce that was given to me by a fellow gardener. It's a lovely lettuce- this will be the 3rd year I've grown it. I saved seeds from previous years from bolted plants.
Lettuce seeds have just arrived so looking forward to sowing a first batch very soon. Great advice here, I hadn’t realised that lettuce don’t like the heat of midsummer and that perhaps explains why we usually get a really good first crop but then struggle as the year progresses. Am thinking of growing a mix like mesclun in summer this year, there are only 2 of us so if I can grow a succession of young leaves that should be fine. Look forward to more advice, your videos are amongst the best I’ve found so many thanks!
YES, Ben, I grew alyssum and zinnias in my garden (in NJ, USA) and although I have no scientific method, my romaine, red lettuce and arugula grew all season with no pests!
Another great video. Just today I dug out and prepared a shaded spot in my garden, near the growing beds for a flower bed, would be very handy to know what companion plants to get started with
Thank you Ben, this is immensely helpful. I really enjoy your videos and I use your garden planner. I was so impressed earlier this week when I emailed a question about planting out my fruit cage and I received a response later that same afternoon. Fantastic, thank you :)
I love your videos! Something I have done for reducing slugs in my garden is to use slug traps. Simply take a square of cardboard, size depends on where you place it in the garden, wet the cardboard and place some food scraps underneath it. Each day I go into the garden, turn the cardboard over and scoop the slugs into a container. I'm going to try planting Assylium this year, thanks for the tip. I planted Tom Thumb lettuce last year, a cute little personal size serving of buttery lettuce.
I have tried the Allysum trick for two seasons now and am very happy with the outcome. I usually let my lettuce heart up but this season I will be peeling off the outer leaves as I have planted them a little closer than the usual spacing. That way (as Bob Dylan says) my lettuce "stay forever young"...well as much as any annual can ;-)
Hello, our family favorite lettuce to grow in Zone 7B - NJ, USA is Black Seeded Simpson. It's easy to grow and it's delicious! I usually let some of it bolt and collect its seeds for next season.
Hey Ben, I just put lettuce seeds in trays so this came at the perfect time for me. Really looking forward to seeing them come up and getting loads of fresh leafy greens soon. Thank you for sharing your tips.
I start with a loose leaf mix, black seed simpson, a small amount of grand rapids and my favorite early prize head. I also will plant a summer crisp type called Muri and buttercrunch bibb. Mix in some spinach and these makes great salads. I like to wrap them in either flat bread or other wraps with some spring onion and some shredded cheese coby and or cheddar.
Yes I've got lettuce in abundance in my greenhouse at the moment and as you say I pick the outer leaves off, I've been picking for about 4 month's, I sow at the end of August and I'll still be picking in April, they will want to bolt about then so I let them and collect the seed when ready, the best lettuce I have found to go through winter is Red Velvet.
Thank you…I live in South Central Texas…you’ve given me hope! I’ll definitely need planter boxes since my soil is actually sandy lome that’s goes down deep and special care due to the heat! Watching your berry video now!
Beer traps for slugs work great. I did experiment with different types of beer and noticed slugs and snails 🐌 do have a favourite. A very yeasty beer seems to work best.
An old lady in Cyprus taught me to wrap my lettuce (and other green leaves) in a damp tea towel before storing them in the fridge. They stay crisp and fresh for up to two weeks. Just make sure you keep the tea towel damp (but not wet)
@HackzFood A fridge?
Best tip is to cut leaves away as you need them and leave stalk intact. Extends freshness hugely.
That's what my mother used to do.
Alyssum... What a great idea! Fragrant, low ground cover (can be given "haircuts"), attract the insects we DO want ... and don't compete much for nutrients! Win, win, win.... Thanks, Ben! 😊
It's great to have a winning combination like that Rita, definitely!
A tip I have about aphids, is to have a garden Nasturtium growing in your garden. It attracts aphids like crazy and ever since I started to grow one, I never had any aphids on the other plants anymore.
Great tip, cheers Thimo!
I also use neem oil with dish soap and water, but i like the easy ways to rid aphids
Nasturtium also seems to attract the white butterflies
I wish I could give you another thumbs up, since this is my second time watching this episode. I need to get my gardening notebook out and take notes, because you have SO much knowledge to share. Thank you for your interesting videos, I enjoy them very much!
Thanks Wendy!
I grow a 2-sided trellis, making an A-frame structure for my sweet peas, and under it I plant lots of lettuces. It works beautifully, they're shaded by the sweet peas and pests don't usually find them. Thank you for yet another lovely, encouraging and informative video!
That's a great solution to hot sun - great thinking. :-)
I love your idea, thank you.
Sweet, edible? peas, or the sweet pea flower?
@@GrowVeg
@@joannegratton491 thank you and you're welcome!
You can plant lettuce at any time. For instance, I just planted my Romaine lettuce. But because the hot weather is coming, I planted them under the shade of a Maple tree. The shade will keep them cool during the hot weather.
This has quickly become one of my favourite channels.
Cheers Michiel!
Good tip when watering small to medium pots or cell trays...hold the pot/cell to be watered over another pot that also needs watering and allow the top pot/cell to drain to the one below. This not only saves water, it also means you save on watering time. Fresh water is precious to us and our vegetables.
Great advice, thanks Alexandra.
I'm in western North Carolina, Zone 7B, and grow Buttercrunch and Romaine in a cold frame all winter. I start from seed in late September. Light bulbs inside and and a tarp on the outside for nights below 26 degrees has kept my lettuces and radishes in perfect shape. No bug problems this time of the year :)
That's one benefit of growing in winter - no pests to speak of.
Harvesting: Charles Dowding is using this method as a market gardener. Pinch put the outer leaves. 3 months of harvest. Perfect!
"A sticky but happy ending" really cracked me up.
Glad to have raised a smile!
The amount of enthusiasm and life you bring to the videos is great, you seem like a genuinely great person to know.
Thanks so much. :-)
Butter crunch lettuce, romaine, red leaf, one package of mixed too. All from seed. Grow super well up here near Seattle WA. I have been planting alyssum, zinnia, and nasturtiums with my veggies for years. Attracts pollinators and is attractive in appearance and no aphids!
That's really great to hear first hand that these flowers help with aphids - thanks for sharing that Marilyn.
I'm in NZ and currently have a lovely crop of butter lettuce nearly ready to harvest. I can't believe how much they taste like butter 💛 I picked my last frilly lettuce last night for tea. It's so rewarding growing your own food 💚
It's a great and wonderfully empowering thing to do Jacki.
In Nz too and love growing and eating buttercruch lettuces!
Lol
No need to use butter on lettuce n marmite sammies 👍🏻
Lol
No need to use butter on lettuce n marmite sammies 👍🏻
My favorite vegetable growing channel, thank you!
Thanks for watching Alvaro! :-)
Love homegrown lettuces. Lettuces are very forgiving about being transplanted. In summer, I definitely grow in shade and I sow more often, so I have young lettuces when the older ones bolt. For sow bugs and slugs, I grow individual lettuces in their own pots that sit above the ground. I usually let a few lettuces go to seed each year and end up with lots of seeds and volunteers, which I transplant and grow on. We just harvest lettuce when we are eating it. I actually just graze in the garden, a few leaves each day.
That's a great way to grow - always something to pick. :-)
We have romaine,.lollo rosso,.lollo verde,.oak leaf types growing now. We also use a media low in Nitrogen but higher in calcium to get them going and provide crisp leaves, we found this reduces aphid pressure too. We also supplement a comfrey FPJ/ Tea which we use in drip
That's really interesting to hear - thanks for sharing that. :-)
Extremely helpful Ben! I also really appreciate you referencing seasons like early, mid, late winter etc as opposed to specific months. Adored the footage of the hedgehog too 😊Many thanks from Australia!
Cheers for that - great to have viewers down under. :-)
❤Thanks a lot for spreading these huge happiness, beautiful gardening and clear knowledge.
And thank you for watching. :-)
Very helpful. The Allysum tip is just what I needed having lost nearly all my lettuce to bugs and slugs last year. I use garlic and marigolds in the greenhouse in a similar way for my tomatoes and cucumbers etc
It's a great plant. Can't wait to use more of it this season Ken.
0
I'm looking forward to the assylum tip this year. We grow for 4 families in Wisconsin, USA. With increased food and petrolium prices this year, we are increasing the area under cultivation. Instead of single seed types, we will probably plant mixes of lettucices, mustards, kales, etc. We generally start seeds inside and plant plugs in no dig raised beds.
Great to hear you're expanding - it's a very empowering response to rising prices.
Just discovered your page, binging like crazy! Love your content
Thanks so much. A warm welcome to you. :-)
Great video, hadn't realised they didn't like the hot weather so, will rethink were I'm going to plant them this season, thanks for sharing & take care 🙂
@Austin Howland I'm good thank you 🙂
@Austin Howland I'm in Wallasey, Wirral 🙂
@Austin Howland yes I am
Very informative video as usual Ben, thank you from Central Coast Hinterland, NSW, Australia!
For storing lettuce & green veggies I wrap them in a bit of paper towel before putting in a plastic bag in the fridge-it absorbs excess moisture & keeps them humidified.
Hi, I'm in Saskatchewan, Canada right in the middle of winter, so I love hearing about cold weather crops. Just wanted to agree that after washing my lettuce and spinning it dry, it keeps very well in a large plastic container with paper towels between layers.
That's a great tip David and Maureen, many thanks.
Slugs are the bane of my existence!!! I will try the Beer for sure! However, it better work Ben, I am Canadian eh and we don't like wasting beer, lol.
I feel your concern there Alexander, really I do! Only use the cheap stuff - don't go wasting any of the good stuff!
Another well explained interesting video thank you! Congratulations on your journalistic award, well deserved ! Really looking forward to next video! ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ 🥇
Thanks so much Fiona, that means a lot and is appreciated. :-)
Hello dear ,how are you doing?
I'm growing heritage ones this year called Bloody Warrior !
That's a cool name!
Great to see you on here by the way. :-)
For the first time ever I managed to grow some Buttercrunch lettuce this year. I planted in late January. Protecting from our North Texas ice storms provided plenty of challenge, but I manage to grow a number of the Buttercrunch and Red Romaine variety from the seedlings purchased from a local feed store. It is early May and I have just harvested the last of the Buttercrunch. I'll be growing this again for certain. Not certain if growing this into the winter will work her but I'm going to try. It can remain in the 80degree Fahrenheit range into December.
Definitely worth a try. Glad you got a good early crop.
Rob...that was great information on Alyssum! I did not know it attracted beneficial predators...I will be sure to add that to the mix! I like to direct sow salad mixes...I love the variety but my favorite lettuce is buttercrunch. Thank you for all you do!
No problem at all Dennis - and thank you for watching.
Thank you Ben for putting out so many wonderful and entertaining videos they never fail to put a smile on my face. I live in the Williamette Valley in western Oregon and have a huge success of slug control by using the powdered egg shells from my chickens I have. It works wonderful and costs me nothing I my husband gets the nice cold beer. =)
Great tip, thanks so much. :-)
Lettuces are my favorite green to grow...but I never have luck with starting them inside. I like all kinds! Slugs are a BIG problem where I live...Thanks for the tips!
Buttercrunch is one of my favorites
Delicious!
“The merest suggestion of potting mix”. Nice.
You are very good with your lettuce!! I planted mine out in the heat, in S France and wondered why they didn't come up - my hubby took me for a fool - this is my 1st full year of growing and they grew really well in Wales years ago!! Thanks for the tips!!!!!!! I will grow indoors early along with the peppers, next year.
At least you'll be able to grow plenty of warm-season crops down there - wonderful!
Looking forward to the companion plant video
You're so friendly and approachable🤗♥️.
Bless you - thanks!
We like Flashy Trout's Back lettuce. It's really tasty and our budgies love it almost as much as basil, probably because of its bright colors.
I've not heard of that one Melody - I'll have a look.
Hello, how are you doing?
@@GrowVeg Translate to German and you will find it.
Ben, I'm with you on the deliciousness of home grown lettuce. I enjoy growing loose leaf lettuces.🙂 Not too sure on all the varieties I'll grow this year...one I try to grow each year is Black Seeded Simpson.
Looks like Rosie was giving you a hand on pruning a bush or two.🙂
Looking forward to your next video...I'm learning a ton!👍
Oh, like the beard...looks good on ya!
Loose-leaf is great, and I get good results with all those varieties. But a nice head of lettuce (or several) would be great, too, including the much-maligned (by "foodie" snobs) Iceberg variety, which really can't be beat for crispiness; perfect sandwich additions. But I just can't seem to make those work. I'm thinking timing is crucial with those, coupled with cooperation from Mother Nature. If it heats up too much too soon in the spring, you're just out of luck. Gonna keep trying, though.
Frank - definitely keep trying. Your patience will be rewarded I'm sure.
Valorie - thanks for the kind words. Not sure about the beard but will keep experimenting!
I love Romaine and Bibb lettuces, especially for sandwiches. I am like their cut-and-come-again harvesting qualities. I also enjoy the iceberg lettuces as they add a pleasant crunch to salads.
Another helpful video, Ben. I especially like growing arugula because it's so flavorful and so expensive in the stores, yet so easy to grow. I've had some giving us delight in a covered bed all winter so far.
It's a great salad leaf for sure Peter.
I never knew alyssum helped to attract beneficial insects like that! I love it for its own sake but will definitely put some in between the vegs now as well as in flower containers. Thank you. Sweet channel.
Thanks for your tips. I've the seeds now I'll give lettuce growing a go. We're in our winter good time to start planting.
Wow 10 months ago i put a comment in and it is May - I have wonderful lettuce everywhere this year. I started them in a cold frame and then the tunnel and after that outside - so pleased. Cold so far this year - started off with a soft lettuce and then a variety called Black Simpson loads to eat!!
That's really super to hear - good job! :-)
One day I plan to have a green house. Until then I just sow lettuce in late Feb or early March. I do start my heirloom tomatoes. In Feb and keep under a grow light. Right now I have some wonderful herbs on the windowsill. But I will replace them with some lettuce soon.
Thanks for the tips on the flowers. I try to keep them in my garden. It really helps . As always, I have learned something from your vid. We are snowed in and frozen here now. But I dream of the warm soil and bare feet ! Lol Have a blessed Sunday all.
I like spring mix lettuce
It sounds like you're doing all the right things to get a bit of a head start on the season. Spring isn't too far off now Tonie. :-)
Thanks Ben. Always love your videos. Gardening here in Japan.
Great stuff Daniel, thanks for watching
Never had much luck with direct sowing lettuce here in southeastern US. But now I think I will try planting in pots until they are well developed. And try the companion plants once they are in the ground. Alyssum, who knew???
Thanks for the tips!
I love the crispiness of Lollo Rossa. And at €2 a pop in the supermarkets these days, they're definitely worth having a go at at home.
Definitely!
Excellent video. I never seem to get the steps from germination, to plugs, to planting out right so this has been very helpful. Thank you.
Great video thank you. I am going to plant some corn salad for the first time
Thanks for the companion planting ideas. Heirloom romain Speckled Trout grows 9+ months in a bed shaded by the greenhouse. Near Seattle, US.
This is my first season growing lettuce and I only just saw this. So glad I had my planting right! I live in a warm climate and planted a "wall" of sugar snap peas to shade them.
Thank you for your enjoyable class on growing lettuce. I learned a lot and will start tomorrow!
It’s a real treat to watch and learn from you. Thanks 😘
New subbie here. I love your videos. A filipina from California
Welcome! Thank you so much for the sub!
perfect timing on this video! im doing some of these this year. im glad to have found your video on the companion planting from before too for these bibbs and my tomatoes.
Him : what type of lettuce are you going to grow this year?
Me: YES
So many decisions!
i like growing many many types of lettuce and having a mixed bag of leafs. Wonderful crisp leaves all year long! we just started to hvest them this year! And we cant of planted them that long ago.
I love lettuce and I tend to grow quite a few different ones . They taste so different from the ones in supermarket . I like to keep the seeds too . I grow old varieties.
I'm on the Northern coast of BC 🇨🇦 (zone 7b) and am starting to realize that my lettuce methods last growing season while fairly productive (didn't buy lettuce for about 3 months while having a big salad with dinner a few times a week) could definitely be better!
Thanks for the info 👍
So pleased this video has offered a few ideas Lochlan.
I find that tuna cans are the right size for slug traps - cover to protect from rain. Place washed lettuce in the middle of a tea towel and (holding the corners), fling it down to spin out the water, best done outside.
Brilliant tips - thanks for sharing them.
This is my first year growing lettuces. I am starting with loose leaf lettuce and romaine lettuce. 😊🤞💗
Hope they grow well for you. :-)
I love your videos. I've grown lettuce for years but didn't realise they were cold weather crops! I live in Cornwall now and have some in the poly tunnel. I'll look for a shadier place for the next lot!
Thanks Pamela. Lettuce is pretty accommodating and will do fine in most spots in this country.
I've grown for the first time.... gem lettuce 😋 sown straight into trough in April under cloche, I'm taking first picks today, i couldn't be more proud😇. Cheer's Ben, amazing advice and videos..a big shout out to my green garden friend Hollie B in Surrey who has given me the kick I needed
Well done - that must be a very satisfying moment. Top job!😀
Another fine video. Love your new (to me) look. I grow lettuce in my house. My dogs love lettuce in their soup so I need a lot. I like the red types like red sails. I also grow lots of Japanese cabbage that are more like lettuce in texture. They grow extremely fast and I do cut and come again. My replacement for Cos... I also love Tatsoi I grow that year round. Indoors and in my greenhouse.
Interesting about your dogs liking lettuce. I'll have to see if my Rosie might like it too. :-)
Excellent information explained for beginners, thanks so much. Looking forward to next vid
I recently slowly shoveled mulch onto my rose bush like rain to remove tons of larva in a desperate attempt. It worked! The larva couldn't hold onto the stalk with the shards of mulch raining on them over and over. It buried them underneath the rose itself. A two in one hack for trying on your sturdier plants like my young rose. In two weeks the suffering leaves are gone and a half dozen baby pink blooms are showing off!
Yey - well done on getting on top of them!
We have Hilde 2 growing very nicely in our polytunnel this year, and hope to plant butterhead varieties too.
Hi. Here in Napier New Zealand I grow or more correctly allow to grow a self sowing plant known locally as Miners/Mynahs Lettuce. Once you allow it to seed it reappears each winter and spring. Since I realised how easily lettuces will perpetuate themselves I’ve always allowed my other lettuce varieties to flower and seed. Buying or sowing lettuce seeds or plants is almost a thing of the past. When the new plants appear, all over the garden, just transplant them to where you want to them to develop. I love your entertaining and informative videos and great suggestions.
That’s a great way to do it Brian. Nice and easy and led by nature. 👍
I live in Central Texas so I think it might be hard for me to grow lettuce in the hottest months but I'm excited to practice sowing lettuce through spring, fall, and part of winter! Here we can grow kale, collards, and bok choy easier. I'm trying to get some spinach in before it gets too warm here. yesterday it was 82F and today we have freezing rain haha
Oh wow - that is quite some swing in temperature!
I’m in west Texas I can only dream of growing lettuce during summer lol
Making me anxious. I am in USA, Southern Indiana. It gets cold here,with snow,sleet,etc. My Dad always planted loose leaf lettuces in a cold frame on Valentine's day.
Black seeded Simpson was one of his (and my) favorites. But I also love Romaine.
Meant to build a cold frame last year,but got too busy. I need to get busy!!!!
Thanks again for your videos.
Get busy - there's still plenty of time! :-)
Black seed Simpson, Bibb, Romaine, Red Silvia.. thanks for all the tips and tricked !
You're welcome Christine. Some lovely varieties there.
I love allysum.. New use for it!!
Interesting. I figured aphids just didn't exist where I am, but maybe it's because I have alyssum, calendulas, and zinnias in my garden. I tried slug traps this past year, but since I combined it with other control methods I'm not sure how successful it was. The slugs cleared up, though. :)
Nice work - sounds like you've got everything well under control, and naturally too. :-)
Thank you
Great ideas. I have arugula growing in Georgia, USA in an outdoor raised bed and it is impervious to the below freezing temps that we have been having!
It's a tough old plant!
I’ve been growing Landis lettuce all winter under my hoops, it’s such a delicious and tender almost buttery leaf, I recommend them highly! Landis is bred for growing in cold weather.
Great recommendation, thanks Nancy.
I've had the pleasure of using garden planner for years and I hope to take advantage of the when to plant/harvest guide. My lettuce has always been bitter and after watching this video I'm certain it's because I plant in direct sunlight and when it's super hot out🤦🏾♀️. I live in Missouri.
I hope this season's lettuce is less better Kryssie.
I've always had success with leaf lettuce. Will be trying head lettuces this year.
Butternut. Thanks Ben 😊
I ment Buttercrunch 🤭. You probably knew that. God Bless
Hi Ven, thanks for your terrific videos! I've been growing Summer Crisp lettuce that was given to me by a fellow gardener. It's a lovely lettuce- this will be the 3rd year I've grown it. I saved seeds from previous years from bolted plants.
Well done on saving your own seeds - that's a very satisfying thing to do and great that you've closed the loop.
Lettuce seeds have just arrived so looking forward to sowing a first batch very soon. Great advice here, I hadn’t realised that lettuce don’t like the heat of midsummer and that perhaps explains why we usually get a really good first crop but then struggle as the year progresses. Am thinking of growing a mix like mesclun in summer this year, there are only 2 of us so if I can grow a succession of young leaves that should be fine. Look forward to more advice, your videos are amongst the best I’ve found so many thanks!
Thanks for that. Yes, a succession of leaves sounds like a great plan. :-)
Butter crunch lettuce is my favorite.
YES, Ben, I grew alyssum and zinnias in my garden (in NJ, USA) and although I have no scientific method, my romaine, red lettuce and arugula grew all season with no pests!
Great to hear that Richard. Clearly something is going right with that plant combination.
Another great video. Just today I dug out and prepared a shaded spot in my garden, near the growing beds for a flower bed, would be very handy to know what companion plants to get started with
Hi Tom. Top job. You might like this weekend's upcoming video, when I'll be looking at a few really great companion planting combinations.
I would sow the seeds into bigger plug trays from the start, but fewer seeds. It will save you a lot of work. Happy gardening!
Yes, probably very true! :-)
Thank you Ben, this is immensely helpful. I really enjoy your videos and I use your garden planner. I was so impressed earlier this week when I emailed a question about planting out my fruit cage and I received a response later that same afternoon. Fantastic, thank you :)
That's really great to hear Amanda - they're a great team on the customer services front.
I love your videos! Something I have done for reducing slugs in my garden is to use slug traps. Simply take a square of cardboard, size depends on where you place it in the garden, wet the cardboard and place some food scraps underneath it. Each day I go into the garden, turn the cardboard over and scoop the slugs into a container. I'm going to try planting Assylium this year, thanks for the tip.
I planted Tom Thumb lettuce last year, a cute little personal size serving of buttery lettuce.
What a great idea for tackling lettuces - thanks for sharing Jeannette!
I have tried the Allysum trick for two seasons now and am very happy with the outcome. I usually let my lettuce heart up but this season I will be peeling off the outer leaves as I have planted them a little closer than the usual spacing. That way (as Bob Dylan says) my lettuce "stay forever young"...well as much as any annual can ;-)
Nice one Craig, that sounds like a good plan.
Hello, our family favorite lettuce to grow in Zone 7B - NJ, USA is Black Seeded Simpson. It's easy to grow and it's delicious! I usually let some of it bolt and collect its seeds for next season.
Great to collect and save your own seed Diane - that's closing the loop good and proper. :-)
Hey Ben, I just put lettuce seeds in trays so this came at the perfect time for me.
Really looking forward to seeing them come up and getting loads of fresh leafy greens soon.
Thank you for sharing your tips.
Not long to go. :-)
I start with a loose leaf mix, black seed simpson, a small amount of grand rapids and my favorite early prize head. I also will plant a summer crisp type called Muri and buttercrunch bibb. Mix in some spinach and these makes great salads. I like to wrap them in either flat bread or other wraps with some spring onion and some shredded cheese coby and or cheddar.
Great to have such a varied mix of leaves Cliff.
Thank you !! I’ve never been successful growing lettuce before . I learned a lot from your video !
Yes I've got lettuce in abundance in my greenhouse at the moment and as you say I pick the outer leaves off, I've been picking for about 4 month's, I sow at the end of August and I'll still be picking in April, they will want to bolt about then so I let them and collect the seed when ready, the best lettuce I have found to go through winter is Red Velvet.
Brilliant - thanks for the tip on the Red Velvet Graham.
Thank you…I live in South Central Texas…you’ve given me hope! I’ll definitely need planter boxes since my soil is actually sandy lome that’s goes down deep and special care due to the heat! Watching your berry video now!
Thanks! Now I know i have to get Alyssium for my lettuces! So helpful video!
Beer traps for slugs work great. I did experiment with different types of beer and noticed slugs and snails 🐌 do have a favourite. A very yeasty beer seems to work best.
Which is??
I have never had success with lettuce as it’s always bolted so going to give some of these tips a try this year. Thanks Ben
Hope you get a bolt-free crop this time round. 😀
Great tips! This year planting Romaine lettuce, will use your advice and companion plant Alyssum too! Thanks!
You're very welcome Debbie. :-)
This is awesome. Thanks for the video!
I love the Baker Creek Rocky Top mix.
Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge