New to baord & ?- Why is my lettuce bitter?

[MelanieC]

Hi all,
I just found this board. I guess because there are so many here I didn't really notice it before. My lettuce is bitter tasting.

The package says - Lettuce, quick growing variety.
Grand Rapids, Tipburn resistance.

I did notice that in our area it says Mar-Apr & Jul-Aug. DH planted in may. We are close to the area that says May-July.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Melanie

 

[Mamu]

Welcome to the Dis F & G Forums Melanie.

Your lettuce has matured. Like all veggies it best when young. This is a crop that needs to be re-planted every 6 weeks.

I plant mine in the early spring, re-plant in a shady spot in the summer (the summer crop usually is not as good as the spring crop) because I plant it in the shade it doesn't bolt as quickly. The summer heat has a way of making lettuce bolt (aging rapidly to produce flowers and seeds) Once the lettuce starts to bolt it becomes very bitter.


If you want lettuce through the growing season re-plant every 6 weeks. When the spring crop has started to mature and become bitter your next crop should be ready. Pull up the spring crop and re-plant so you will have a fall crop. I usually do 3 planting during the growing season. This ensures me young tender lettuce throught the season. I usually plant my 1st crop in May, my 2nd end of June and my 3rd beginning of August.

 

[MelanieC]

Thanks so much. I really thought you planted it once and you kept cutting it till the end of the season. Boy was I wrong. I can't wait to share this info with DH. I wonder what else we are doing wrong.

Thanks again,
Melanie

 

[Tulirose]

See, that's why I love this board so much. I don't plant veggies. Maybe one day I will and now I will know what to do because I had no clue about the lettuce having to have several plantings either. So don't feel so bad Melanie.

AND WELCOME TO THE FLOWER AND GARDEN BOARD!!

 

[Snowwark]

Welcome, Melanie!

I love your family picture, very nice!

I've often thought of growing lettuce in containers (I have a very small yard), but I've not gotten around to it yet. Maybe next year! It's a good thing we have Mamu to help us out.

Gardening is a lot of trial and error...the error part I'm very familiar with..lol

When you have a chance, come back and tell us more about your garden.


Kim

 

[Cherokee Tiger Lily]

Hi there fellow gardener!

Lettuce is a cool season crop so it's best planted almost as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring and then again in August or September for a fall crop. Now - if you want to fool Mother Nature, ( and this is a good way to raise 2 crops in the space of one ) , if you plant pole beans with the teepee method (3 stakes spread at the bottom and tied at the top with beans planted by each pole and allowed to climb up the pole) you can plant your lettuce all season long underneath the bean poles somewhat in the shade. It'll give them the shade and slightly cooler temp that they thrive on. Now - is you really want to get fancy ( not really fancy, just go overboard) go to your local farm supply store and buy a 16' panel of "hogwire". Bend it into an arch and secure both sides with U-pins (you can make them yourself out of anything you can bend into that shape ). This will give you sort of a wire arch trellis. Ok. Plant your pole beans along the sides of the trellis and let them climb. Then plant cool season crops (lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, radishes, whatever) under the trellis. The advantage of this is easier to get to and when the beans form , they'll hang down thru the wire and you can just walk thru and pick them from underneath. Just remember to pick your lettuce as soon as it reaches a usable size. Don't let it get old. Another thing is to grow leaf lettuce. It's higher in nutrients than head lettuce and you can pick the outer leaves and let it keep going and you keep picking. Not forever, mind you, but for a period of time. Try some of the new mesclun mixes. Really tasty.
Y'all have a great day now, hear?
Michelle