Leaf

by Gretchen Bagley

Created on: March 18, 2010

As a gardener of some experience (I sell produce at farmer’s markets in the summer), I have found leaf lettuce is much easier to grow than head lettuce.  Leaf lettuce is a quick growing crop and is not difficult to grow in a container on the patio, in a window box, or even on the window sill inside the house.  Those with little gardening experience will find this a simple first attempt at growing fresh produce.  Also, the cost of lettuce at the grocery is enough to make even someone with a “black thumb” decide to try this.

 Personally, I prefer to grow a mesclun mix in a large pot outside my door.  I don’t grow lettuce for sale, but for my own personal use.  I really enjoy a fresh salad with mixed greens.  A bag of this type of lettuce costs me about $3.00 at the store and for less than $1 I can buy seeds and grow three to four times as much. 

 Because it grows quickly, I don’t have to worry about the critters getting into it like I do when I grow head lettuce.  I planted several head lettuce plants in my garden last year and didn’t harvest one.  Between the bugs, the bunnies and the deer, there was none left for the humans to consume! 

 My method is extremely simple:  put potting soil in the large pot, sprinkle the seeds, lightly rake the top to cover the seeds (they only need about ¼ inch of soil on top of them), and water as needed.  The pot gets plenty of sun sitting outside.  And the mixed greens look pretty, too.  I don’t use fertilizers as I prefer organic produce when possible, because I can eat my produce straight out of the garden this way.  There are no harmful chemicals to rinse off before eating.  The only thing I may add is some compost from my composter which I mix into the soil before planting the seeds.

 The nice thing about this container method of growing lettuce is that you can keep replanting as you harvest the lettuce and can have fresh greens all spring and into summer.  Lettuce doesn’t do as well in the hot months, but I replant again in September and October and can enjoy greens until the frost—and even longer if I bring the pot indoors at night.

 I live in Ohio and will be planting my first container of lettuce outdoors by the end of March and will enjoy my early harvest in April.  The first harvest of fresh greens always tastes so good after a long winter of purchased lettuce.  The fresher the produce, the better it tastes and I can’t get any fresher than picking the lettuce and putting it directly into my bowl.

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