LadyMin's Garden

The lettuce is ready to eat. The seeds were planted about 5 weeks ago. I put the lettuce in a barrel to keep it out of the reach of bunnies. Plus it’s easier to pick when higher off the ground.

Early spring is the best time to plant lettuce in the Chicago area. Lettuce is a cool weather crop that is happiest when the daytime temperatures are 65F to 75F with cool evenings. Once the days heat up, the leaves get bitter and the plants tend to bolt and go to seed.

I tried a different mix this year. These are a little more tolerant of heat than the mesclun mix I planted last year.

• Four Seasons (soft butterhead)
• Lollo Rossa (curly red leaf)
• Buttercrunch (heat tolerant cousin of Bibb)
• Craquerelle du Midi (French Romaine)
• Black Seeded Simpson (fast growing looseleaf)
• Salad Bowl (looseleaf)