By Pam Ervin
For The Salisbury Post
If you want to get an early start in the garden, think lettuce. It grows best in cool weather, which for the Piedmont area is Feb. 15-April 1 and again Aug. 15-Sept. 15.
There are four types of lettuce available:
– Crisp-head lettuce ó doesn’t tolerate heat as well as other types
– Romaine ó has more nutritional value with vitamins A,B and C
– Leaf lettuce
– Butterhead ó doesn’t store as well as others
It’s best to get a soil test in the fall to help you determine fertility and pH levels. Lettuce likes moist, rich, well drained soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8. Enrich the soil in garden or raised bed with 2 to 4 inches of compost in the fall and again in the early spring.
Seeds can germinate at 35 degrees but grow best at 60-65 degrees. Plants can tolerate light frost but do best if night temperatures are above 25 degrees.
Start seeds indoors four to six weeks before setting out.
Sow 1/4-inch deep and space 1-2 inches apart. Cover trays to hold moisture and remove cover when seeds germinate. Set at window or under grow light until first true leaves develop, keeping soil moist but not soggy.
Plants should be hardened off by setting out in the warm sun a week before transplanting in garden.
Space leaf lettuce 4 inches apart and head lettuce 12 inches apart. Seeds can also be sown directly in the garden at this time and plant small amounts every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Enjoy!
Pam Ervin is a Master Gardener volunteer with the Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County.