Just thinking ahead to summer. I'm wanting to do a shade tunnel for lettuce to try and keep some going as long a possible in my shadeless, windswept, and hot/humid summer garden. I did a search of old posts but must be using the wrong key words and I haven't found the answer to this one.
Terri
Does the soil temp or the air temp cause lettuce to bolt?
I don't know, either, but this a great question, so I'm bumping it up hoping someone will answer.
Thanks.
Terri ~ you might find this article interesting. I think you are on the right track with a shade tunnel.
The soil temp is more necessary for germinating seed.
http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/5044/why-lettuce-bolts-and-what-you-can-do-about-it
I also think I would search for the most bolt resistant lettuce seed.
Yes, soil temp. is crucial to germinating lettuce seed. Once the soil temp. gets above 80 degrees, forget about trying to germinate the seed. About a month before the onslaught of hot weather here, I germinate lettuce seed in flats in the cool of my basement under lights and then transplant to the garden. I try to find garden space that affords early morning Sun and afternoon shade, but use of a shade cloth works well also. In addition, I try to use heat-resistant, slow bolting varieties. With a little forethought and succesion planting, it's quite possible to grow lettuce through the Summer heat!
I think the answer to your either/or question is yes/both - and the lettuce will probably turn bitter before it bolts. Mulch if you have any soil showing between plants. Plan on planting (maybe succession planting) both spring and fall.
I usually don't grow lettuce because I'm allergic to it, but this is what I do with Spinach and other greens - most of them do better in the Fall than Spring. When I do grow lettuce, I can tell when it turns bitter without tasting it because the rabbits quit eating it!
terri,
Access pods ref. http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/5044/why-lettuce-bolts-and-what-you-can-do-about-it
And if my memory serves me the loose leaf types are slower to bolt and they have more "taste"
Thanks guys! That was a good link!
pollengarden, rabbits don't make it too long if they stray out into the open garden. We have a Red Tailed Hawk couple nesting somewhere on our property. Snakes and bunnies are their favorites! Also a family of Great Horned Owls for night pest control.
And thanks for the encouragement, Lettuceman. My goal is to have lettuce year round....
terri,
I visited a farm in Honduras years ago and they were growing a beautiful crop of lettuce called "Tropical Queen" and in was in the mid 80s F. I searched for it on the internet for years and never found it but below is something you might be interested in for warmer weather:
http://www.redwoods.quik.com/webteck/george/gormet.html
LETTUCE: LEAF,DELLA CATALOGNA ,Wild'oak' or 'dandelion' type a rare provincial specialty. You may assume it to be a chicory due to rampant growth, but it is a true lettuce and performs well both in high heat and tropical areas such as Hawaii , where we hear raves from eager growers.RARE,B
I place my lettuce rows on the north side of my patch of corn rows. That seems to help. The slowest to bolt that I have found are New Red Fire, Bughatti and Green Towers.