Lettuce - Great Lakes

DESCRIPTION

A variety of iceberg lettuce, Great Lakes can be harvested regularly for its sweet, crunchy, and robust leaves; or grown into a crispy head in a couple of months time. Protect from pests.

POT CARE AND PLANTING

Lettuce is easy to care for in a pot - transplant into a larger pot or a garden bed within 7 days. Soil level should be 1mm below the start of the lowest leaves.

WATERING

Lettuce is a medium water consumer - water it an average amount once per day (early morning or late afternoon is best in summer - twice a day during the hottest months).

SUN EXPOSURE

Lettuce Great Lakes can take half to a full day of direct sun. Avoid letting the plant get too hot and thirsty, as this will cause it to go to flower (or "bolt") and the leaves to become bitter - this variety is forgiving though, while you practice. I recommend planting it near an East or West facing fence or wall. Too little sun will make the lettuce go yellow - if that happens, you can easily move it.

COMPANION PLANTING

This lettuce is going to get fairly big - maybe 30cm wide, and just as tall. It will grow best close to everything else, and can benefit from the shade of larger plants to prolong the time to flowering.

HARVESTING AND EATING

It's up to you when you eat this lettuce! If left undisturbed for a couple of months it will form a round head that can be cut off at ground level and eaten raw - shredded, or pulled apart for its cup-shaped leaves. The roots if left in the ground will go back to producing delicate baby lettuce leaves. Alternatively, you can harvest the largest leaves whenever you want, but this may affect the formation of a head later on. These leaves can get large and flat enough to load with fillings and use as a wrap. This variety of lettuce can also be enjoyed cooked - add at the last minute to clear soup dishes.

SEED SAVING AND PROPAGATION

If you don't pull the roots out before the end of the season, eventually a flower spike will form, bearing a cluster of yellow flowers. When you start to see them open a second time, they'll have fluffy winged seeds, since they're related to dandelions. Pick these flowers individually, or cut the whole spike off on a day when when it's looking really fluffy, and dry them whole in a paper bag. Break up the dried flowers and discard the larger pieces of material - these seeds will be good for at least 3 years. You can re-sow your own crop right away, or save your lettuce seeds over the winter in something airtight. They're quick and easy to germinate - simply cover with about 3mm of soil and water daily, when daytime temperatures are above about 12 degrees.