Hey there!
My head lettuce is growing in a spiral upwards instead of in a compact head like I see in the grocery store.
Did I do something wrong, or is this what I've seen you all talking about 'bolting'?
I'm getting ready to start some more lettuce in a more shaded part of my yard. How do I keep it from bolting?
Here's a picture.
Here's my romaine:
Those are beautiful. From what I've read, head lettuce like cool temperatures and benefit from temperatures in the upper fifties and sixties. The cool temps keep them from bolting so quickly. I think your head lettuce bolted. It's best to pick them once the the heads start to form because they bolt quickly. Temps in the eighties cause the lettuce to bolt prematurely. And you have to remember that the head lettuce we see in the store aren't normal... ;) They have been genetically altered to look consistent, bug resistant, and fast growing. I couldn't tell you about the romaine.
I'd say yes, mine is doing it, too. I find it still tastes good until the seeds form, and keeps pretty well (the romaine, anyway) in the fridge once cut.
Yep! When they start to produce flower stalks and flowers, that's bolting.
so, do you recommend I just cut them all at once, or is it okay for me to just harvest individual leaves?
Does anyone know of a lettuce that does well in the south florida summers? I can provide shading if necessary; just need to produce some lettuce, romaine, tomatoes and salad stuff.
thanks.
I'd take the whole thing once it's started to bolt. I tried some last night that had begun to form flowers and they were quite bitter. The ones that were just elongating tasted fine, and I pulled the leaves I wanted off the stalk, and refrigerated the rest.
I never had any luck with summer lettuce in PBC, but I wasn't very diligent. If i were determined, I'd simply get a big flat tub (I like the mortar tubs from home depot) fill it with a potting mix and compost, and plant in the shade, maybe with just a bit of morning sun. I do thick plantings, and use them quickly, as baby greens. Restaurants charge a fortune for those:). If you keep planting as you use them you might be able to keep them going.
In fact I like the idea so much, I may try it on my porch.
Thanks! :)
edited because I cannot spell...
This message was edited May 9, 2011 6:55 AM
Catmad, I have large molasses tubs that would be perfect for growing like you recommended. Fall is right around our corner (give or take 4 more months of our 95+ temps!)
I'm VERY optimistic we'll see cool temps in a minute! ^^_^^
Linda
*G*. Yeah, here too......
I was thinking of creating an ebucket and putting three to five lettuce plants in there. Since I have mainly southern exposure, and don't need to have these pollinated, was going to just put them on my patio on the south end, but inside the screen enclosure. The bottom part of the screen enclosure provides a diffusing effect, so thinking that may be a good way to do it.
I'll post what that area of the patio looks like mid afternoon later so you have a frame of reference. Hopefully I'll have a good plan. At this point, I'm just playing catch up and just doing what I can to have at least a minimally successful garden.
I had to hack my tomatoes all to heck - either blight, or caterpillars, or both. But now that I cut about a third of it (from the bottom) off, there's now a lot of air circulation, and the caterpillars cannot hide, and there's no leaves for water to splash up on. I think I cut up about 15 with my clippers. Think the birds will love me now.
Oh, and had hubby change from sprinkler to drip system. He only has the romaine and lettuce covered, but at least tomatoes won't get fungus. :)
I had good luck, when I lived in FL and then here with Black-Seeded Simpson and Deer Tongue grown in early summer and under shade cloth or on the cool side of the house. You have to harvest at "babby lettuce" stage. But once the 90 degree temps hit it is hit or miss as lettuce bolts fast then. Save the romaines for fall and spring.
Gymgirl - Don't talk about FALL already!!!! I'm just starting to get rid of the spring rains here and seeing some sunshine and nice weather! Can't wait for summer! :D
thank you, terri, catmad, and gymgirl - greatly appreciated.
With arugula the case is different. Arugula still bolts in warm weather, but don't get rid of them. The developing buds are edible and quite tasty in stir-fries, the mature flowers are good in salads or just plain, the developing seed pods are great bursts of flavor in salads, stir-fries, plain, dried, and added to soups. Hope this helps extend your harvest next year!
