BACK
Post Date:
16th Mar 2023
Post Author:
Post Summary:
No summer would be complete without a simple salad and it's an easy item to produce, even with limited space. GrowMad's David shows you an easy, Step-by-step method of growing this summer salad basic, even without a garden...
Post Sponsor:
The GrowMad Essential Guide to Summer Salads in Pots
| Introduction
As Spring slips its moorings and the lengthening days of summer draw ever closer, more time will be spent outdoors and the BBQ season will soon be upon us once again.
Any alfresco dining event will require the essential salad and no self-respecting salad recipe would be complete without a selection of multi-coloured loose-leaf lettuce as its base.
In this easy-to-follow growing guide, GrowMad’s David will show you exactly how to produce a selection of cut and come-again salad leaves from late spring through to autumn.
There's a lot to cover, so if simply produced summer salads are your thing, let's cut to the heart of it...
| No Garden Required
No garden? No allotment? No problem!
I’ve found the most straightforward way of cultivating any type of lettuce is by using containers instead of directly planting into the soil.
Using containers filled with compost makes crop management so much less work.
The containers can be situated on a deck or patio and can be moved around if required. They also have the added benefit of being more weed-free and less susceptible to pests and diseases, especially slugs and snails.
They can even be started in the greenhouse and moved outside later for an extra early start to the season.
| Here’s how it’s done in 5 easy steps
1. Start by raising young lettuce plants from seed. Lettuce plants can be purchased online or from a local garden centre, however, suitable varieties are often limited.
Seed should be sown thinly into seed trays or ideally individually into modules. Some seed suppliers offer seed in pill form, which is larger and easier to sow. Moles Seeds offer a great range of lettuce seed in pill form.
Cover the seed lightly with vermiculite.
Keep moist and at a temperature of 12-15oc. Higher temperatures should be avoided. Protect from frost. The seed should germinate after 7-10 days.
2. When large enough to handle, prick out or pot on into larger modules or 9cm pots.
3. Gradually harden plants and from April through until September the lettuce can be safely planted out into a suitable size container. Early plantings will benefit from fleece protection.
Container size will depend on your own salad requirements and permitted production area. Even if space is limited, use a container of at least 10 litres.
I prefer to use containers of at least 40 litres to enable an assortment of types and colours to be planted together.
4. After planting, water thoroughly and protect the young plants from predators.
Slugs and snails can be a problem, so use an organic slug repellent. Sparrows, surprisingly enough, also have a liking for newly planted lettuce and can devastate a crop in no time at all. Chicken wire makes an ideal protective covering.
5. After a relatively short period (3-4 weeks) the first harvests can be made. Simply pick individual leaves on a regular basis. Each container should be capable of cropping for up to a month.
As an alternative, leave plants to fully mature and harvest in one go.
| Recommended Varieties and Seed Suppliers
There are a great many varieties of lettuce suitable for this type of salad production, in all colours, shapes and sizes. It’s pretty much down to your personal preference.
Below I have listed some of my own favourites with a convenient list of suppliers:
Ezra - A stunning triple red loose-leaf bred by Enza Zaden of the Netherlands. An essential addition to any salad. Seed available from Moles Seeds
Lettony - A Batavian (crisp lettuce) with an exceptionally sweet taste and holding ability. Seed available from Seaspring Seeds.
Bolero - A dark red oakleaf variety with fine-lobed leaves. A compact variety with very uniform performance. Seed available from Moles Seeds
Frillice - Best described as a curly Iceberg, this variety has an open habit, with dark frilly leaves that retain a crisp succulent texture. Seed available from Moles seeds
Saladin - A standard Iceberg type with large densely packed heads and good holding ability. Seed available from Kings Seeds and Mr Fothergill's Seeds
Navara - An attractive double red Oakleaf type bred by Nunhems. Good-coloured upright foliage that is slow to bolt. Seed available from DT Brown, Kings Seeds
Seurat - A triple-red Butterhead lettuce bred by Rijk Zwaan in the Netherlands. It has a very good colour contrast and thick leaves. It benefits from a very good shelf life and is easy to prepare. It also has strong resistance against tip burn and bolting. Seed available from Just Seed
Marvel of Four Seasons - A medium to large-sized Butterhead lettuce with an attractive green/red curled leaf with exceptionally good flavour. Seed available from DT Brown, Kings Seeds, Simply Seed and Moles Seeds
For a complete list of all Seed Suppliers, why not check out the GrowMad Seed Directory?
| What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Compared with many other crops you may choose to grow, Lettuce is relatively straightforward and trouble-free, however, there is still the odd issue that you need to keep an eye on:
Lettuce root aphid:
Lettuce plants affected will show signs of slow growth and wilting foliage usually in mid-to-late summer. Being root-feeding, these aphids are more difficult to control than leaf-feeding species. The best advice is to keep plants well-watered as damage is more severe in dry conditions and always use fresh compost for each new crop. It is worth noting, that many of today’s modern lettuce varieties are aphid resistant.
Slugs and snails:
Several species of slugs and snails occur in the garden and will be difficult to totally eliminate. There are many methods for controlling slugs and snails including pellets, traps, barriers and biological. Choose a method that suits your style of gardening.
Downy Mildew:
Yellow areas of discolouration will develop and turn brown. Downy Mildew is a fungal disease caused by humid or damp growing conditions. Remove affected plants and always ensure that plants have plenty of ventilation and humid conditions are avoided
Bolting:
Bolting occurs when plants flower and set seeds prematurely. Bolting will occur if the lettuce is left unharvested or when plants are exposed to extreme stress or planted at incorrect times of the year.
| Suppliers & Useful Links
Containers
Composts
Biological Controls
For a complete list of all sundries, equipment and other related products, why not check out the GrowMad Product Directory?
| Takeaway & Conclusion
Almost everyone loves a salad, especially when homegrown. The secret is to Keep sowing little and often to ensure a regular supply and harvest salad leaves regularly to avoid bolting.
Try growing some easy salad leaves such as rocket or red-veined sorrel to add to your salad mix.
At GrowMad, we are obsessed with salad production and have something in production every
single day of the year. Even if you don't have an allotment or kitchen garden, you can see that
production is still possible for a good chunk of the season, simply by utilising containers and a
selection of carefully chosen varieties.
