Why is my lettuce pale? It is in the shade in the early morning and late afternoon. The rest of the time it is in hot sun. The weather has been really hot here, rains at night, but I water it when the soil is dry
Lettuce is pale
Your lettuce doesn't look pale to me; I think it's just the variety you're growing. I sow a mixture; some types have strong color and others are a very light green. How does it taste?
Also, the weather is getting pretty warm to grow lettuce-
It certainly is around here, but I do have some still coming in an area that gets shade part of the day.
The lettuce is very small, thin, and fragile so right now it is hard to tell what it tastes like. Last time I thinned it, I put it in a sandwich and could hardly tell it was there.
Oh, poor lettuce! Almost seems unfair to eat it! Do you remember what type it was?
1) Greenhouse, it is Burpee looseleaf Green Ice. "Wavy leaves have crisp texture, glossy DARK GREEN color, and delicious sweet flavor."
Many leaves toward the bottom are nearly white. When I thinned them out yesterday, I had to throw out half of what I picked. I have put the planter where it will have more shade.
2) BTW, I planted spinach and none came up. Then I generously planted tall zinnias and only 3 have come up! I still have more spinach seeds. Is it too warm to plant them now?
3) One more question: The tops of my beets and turnips are popping up through the soil. Should I just add more soil to cover them? The roots of the lettuce are showing also. We have had a lot of rain and maybe it washed away some soil.
Can any of you help me???
Not sure I can be much help, but here goes. I'm not sure why you threw away the light colored lettuce, but maybe it had something else wrong? Many of my young lettuces were lighter in color than when they matured. Your picture looks fine to me. Mine have more color with more sun, but I grow mostly romaine, may be part of it.
How are your temps? Mine are looking lighter now that it's hot, but that may be subjective.
My spinach didn't show up, either, and only one fennel seed germinated. AFAIK, spinach likes cool weather.
Beets and turnips will also bolt in the heat, maybe they're ready to harvest now? I pulled mine, but we're way warmer zonewise than you are, so I'm not sure...
I don't know if you can see in this photo, but the pale leaves also have a bit of brown at the edges, like they are dying. Nothing I would eat. When I cleaned the lettuce that I picked, there were some brown slimmy old leaves plus the pale ones. To show you more I would have to move more of the leaves around. I wish I could show you what I put down the garbage disposal.
You know for an indoor plant if the leaves looked like that, I would say it is from too much water. And we have had a lot of rain.
Also, I can see the little roots. Should I put more soil over them?
You may be pushing it with your lettuce at this point in the season. You could try putting more soil on the roots, but it could be that it's just too warm now for them to flourish. I'd harvest what's edible now, see if anything else comes up, and try again in the fall or the spring.
Oh, no! Are you saying they are finished growing????
If I cut it all off, would more come up?
Sorry- lettuce is a COOL weather crop- there's nothing you can do to make it grow in the heat!
I tasted a small handful of that lettuce. It was bitter. My beets and turnips are bitter also. What's going on???
Bolting - the temps are too hot unfortunately:o(
Yes, that's what happens when a leafy vegetable is stressed or is going into the next stage of its life cycle. It's no longer really edible. What a shame! You can try again in the fall, though, especially if you have a location with part shade, or you could arrange some shade for them. I have trouble with fall crops because it stays warm so late around here, but it might not be as much of a problem in Zone 5.
You mean I have to throw out my lettuce, beets, turnips, and bush beans?????
Did I just plant them too late?
Yep - they're toast if they are bitter.
I'm not familiar with your zone, but the cool weather crops are usually planted late summer/early fall and very early spring. Try googling "planting calendar + your county" - your ag extension should have recommendations for your area. Let us know what you find out.
Bush beans will do fine in the heat, but you need to do some research as to what will tolerate cold and heat, then plant at the proper time. Basically, all cole crops(cabbage, broccoli,cauliflower,kohlrabi, etc need cool soil). Beans, tomatoes, cukes,squash,etc like warm temps. Lettuce, cilantro, parsley dill, will pretty much bolt and make seeds in the heat.
This message was edited Jun 24, 2010 6:34 PM
I would say, yes, you planted them too late if you're unable to harvest before it bolts. Lettuce doesn't last forever. It has a season. Around here, I can push it a little bit longer since I plant my lettuce in a somewhat shady area. Once it bolts, or starts to bolt it will get bitter.
Beans are grown in warm weather. I grow mine all summer long and into the fall. Pole beans are one of my favorite things to grow for that reason, they just keep going.
To tell you the truth, I have never heard of the word 'bolt.' I have saved the definition of it along with all your good advice. I have about 8 beans and I will cook them tonight to see how they really taste. I took a small bite out of a raw one today and the first few chews were sweet. Then it turned bitter. Maybe I am not use to raw beans. I will give them a try at least.
I just didn't think about that some veggies require warm or cool soil. I thought if I planted them, they would grow!
I put my lettuce in the shade (like that will make a difference now!) Some people like more bitter lettuce types. Not me though.
Who was it that planted romaine? That is my favorite. When did you plant it? From seeds? Just getting info for next year.
Your beans should be good all season, Venice. If they get a bit tough you can just sauté them longer with a bit of onion and/or garlic and/or drippings from spareribs or bacon. We love them that way.
Romaine is another cool-weather, spring crop, like the other lettuces. You plant it from seeds. I have a friend who does his in flats and then transplants them into the garden when they're bigger. It results in nice neat rows but I'm not sure what other advantage it has. When I direct-sow lettuce usually comes up spotty, which gaps in the rows, but I don't mind that. Usually I'll just fill in with some more seeds.
If you pick your beans before they get too big they should be sweet and tender. They get tougher when they get too big. I don't know what variety you are growing but we like ours small. Steam and serve with butter and salt - yum!
You might be able to do a late summer of early fall planting of lettuce and spinach again when it's cooler.
I think the ones I picked this morning are a little bigger than I usually like. I will check tomorrow if there are any smaller ones.
The seeds for these bush beans came in a free package. I have no idea what type they are.
I used a "mixed romaine" seed. It was planted in April, which was really too late, but I got a lot of romaine, and I should finish it off this week. I just started cutting it when it began to look crowded (I direct seeded into a raised bed) and enjoyed it from the "baby greens" stage onward. It was in great colors, from green to red, and a bunch of speckled types in between. I also planted a mesclun mix, which I was surprised to find I like. This was the first time I actually ATE my own lettuce, and I will plant again when it beigns to cool off :)
Too bad I can't quite fidgure out how to have lettuce the same time I have tomatoes.
Catmad, isn't it funny the way the timing works out re tomatoes and lettuce? Once the lettuce bolts I just do tomato and basil and garlic salads, although you can stick some arugula and chard in there too.
Did someone tell me how to cook the bigger tough beans? I can't remember. I was just stringing them and they are definitely tough. I suppose I can just cook them longer. Maybe?
I have only a couple small beans and they tasted good raw. Can I just put them in the fridge until I have more to cook?
We usually harvest our string beans every 2-3 or more days between pickings. Then you should have enough small ones to pick and make a meal. Otherwise it is fine to put them in the fridge but I recommend putting them in plastic bags like you get at the veggie section so they stay fresher. If you just put them in the fridge without a bag they tend to get too soft. I love the babies raw too!
Instead of stringing the bigger ones I just cut them in 1 inch pieces and cook them in some water with salt added. You can always add pieces of ham if they are really tough and make a delicious ham and bean "stew"!
This message was edited Jun 26, 2010 5:41 PM
It may have been me; I sauté them for a while with onions and/or garlic and/or bacon fat and other drippings. My family loves them almost caramelized.
Yes, that does sound good. Anything with onions is good! That is what I do with frozen French green beans, add sauted onion and sliced almonds.