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Anyone who has ever been on a diet can tell you that one sure way to keep hunger at bay is to eat a large salad comprised mainly of lettuce. Lettuce is one of those vegetables that a person can eat in abundance and not worry about calories. It compliments other vegetables such as tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers, onions, and much more. I have even thrown kidney beans or black-eyed peas in my lettuce salads to add a little different taste.
Lettuce is a cold-weather vegetable that thrives between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Most lettuce grows best if planted in early spring or late summer, although there are a few varieties that can tolerate a higher temperature.
Types of Lettuce
Leaf or Loose-leaf Lettuce – This is by far the most popular lettuce for gardeners to plant in the Midwest. The leaves are crisp, a beautiful shade of green, and loosely arranged on the plant. It is fully mature in approximately 50 days.
Romaine or Cos Lettuce – It has a beautiful green color, with only a slightly darker color on the outer edges, and lighter color green or yellow-green on the leaf center. Its leaves are longer than Leaf lettuce, but just as crispy.
Butterhead Lettuce – A more refined flavor, this lettuce is small and tender with soft leaves. It is fully mature in approximately 60 days.
Stem Lettuce – This is an excellent lettuce to use in Chinese dishes, as it is considered an Asian lettuce, but is mainly used in stewed or creamed dishes. It has long leaves that are green on the outer edges and white near the center.
Iceberg or Crisphead Lettuce – This is not a popular variety in the Midwest, as it requires more care than the varieties listed above. It is best grown from transplants in early spring in order to avoid the high heat of summer. Iceberg lettuce resembles cabbage, but the leaves on Iceberg lettuce are much tenderer.
Planting
To ensure that you have lettuce throughout the season, plant successive rows at 10 to 14 day intervals, having all spring planting finished before the end of May. For a fall crop, plant seeds in August. Be sure to water thoroughly so seeds will germinate. Iceberg lettuce transplants should be started indoors or in cold frames and then moved to the garden after all danger of frost has passed. Be sure to harden-off the transplants before planting.
Lettuce seeds should be planted at a depth of one-fourth to one-half inch, with 10 seeds per foot in rows one to one and one-half feet apart. These rows can be single, double, or even triple side-by-side rows, which would be excellent for interval planting. After lettuce sprouts, thin seedlings to four inches apart or six inches apart for Butterhead or Romaine. Because Iceberg is a fuller lettuce, thin it to ten inches apart in the rows.
Caring for Lettuce
Lettuce should be hoed carefully as its roots do not run deep and it could very easily be uprooted with garden tools. Water frequently, but lightly, to avoid diseases and to produce a high-quality lettuce.
Harvest
Cut lettuce at ground level when it is large enough for salads or sandwiches. Try cutting the plants in an alternate pattern to allow space for the plants in between to grow fuller. Wash lettuce thoroughly and completely dry before storing in your refrigerator. It will keep the best at 32 degrees Fahrenheit with 95 percent humidity, so be sure to adjust your refrigerator drawers to accommodate this delightful vegetable.
Problems
Aphids are a known issue with lettuce so be sure to plant Petunias or Marigolds around your lettuce as a companion plant to deter these pests. Tipburn (caused from a change in moisture between the soil and the plant) is also an issue. Water lightly and more frequently to help prevent Tipburn. For leaves that are already affected, simply cut off the brown edges and use the rest of the leaf.
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Author Bio Box: Agnes Farside
 http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/110407/agnes_farside.html
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