Need lettuce recommendation

enchant · August 30, 2012

We normally buy red leaf lettuce from the grocer and are happy with that. With this year's garden, we planted red leaf lettuce that we bought in 6-pack flats from the nearby nursery. I think it was called "Ruby Red Lettuce". They grew up very healthy and looked beautiful, but the truth is that when they were picked, they were pretty flimsy. If I was making a BLT, I'd need to stack them five or six deep to get any substance. They were so thin that even fresh and healthy off the plant, they really didn't seem crisp.

So I'm looking at Johnny's seeds, and he's got over a hundred listed. The descriptions aren't specific enough to be able to make a wise choice, so I'm hoping someone here can give me a recommendation. I'd like something that wouldn't be too different from what I'd find in the store, and that has some substance to it.

Also, with summer ending, can I put in new plants? When's a good time to plant? Is it already too late? I live a little south of Boston, MA.

Thanks for any help.

cornbreadlouie · August 30, 2012

It's not exciting, but romaine is tasty, crispy and has pretty good structural rigidity right off the plant.

I dunno if it's technically a lettuce, but chard makes a good sandwich addition. At the right time, they'll fit on a piece of bread without any chopping and the stems are usually still tender enough to eat at that point.

It's never too late to plant lettuces, because you can eat them at any point in the growing process.

**mdvpc** · August 30, 2012

I would suggest getting from Johnny's a couple of his blends so you can have a variety of cutting lettuces for your table. Thats what I do. I also buy his arugula and Jericho romaine, which are very good.

Cole_Robbie · August 30, 2012

For red leaf, I had good luck with "new red fire." For green leaf, I like "green ice." Black-Seeded Simpson is a classic green leaf as well.

RayR · August 30, 2012

Red Sails is a good one.
Although Johnny's doesn't carry it, Rouge Grenobloise is excellent and is the last in my garden to bolt in the summer.

stonysoilseeds · August 30, 2012

i like red deer tounge and oak leaf i am planting a small bed of lettuce this weekend for late fall salads

RayR · August 30, 2012

Red Deer Tongue is one or my favorite red varieties also. Marvel of the Four Seasons is another good one.

ddsack · August 31, 2012

I like the crisper texture of Batavia lettuces, Nevada is a green one I grow every year, Sierra has a reddish tinge, but seeds are harder to find.

enchant · August 31, 2012

I'll probably buy a variety of seeds from Johnnys and see what I like.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdvpc

I would suggest getting from Johnny's a couple of his blends so you can have a variety of cutting lettuces for your table. Thats what I do. I also buy his arugula and Jericho romaine, which are very good.

Pardon my newbiness, but how does a blend work? They just mix a variety of seeds in the packet, right? Don't you plant lettuce like other plants - a few seeds in one spot, or do you scatter them around, as though your seeding a grass lawn?

**mdvpc** · August 31, 2012

The blend is a mix of seed. I use them in a hydroponic system, where I put 3-5 seed in a grow plug. I do the same for soil-start them in grow plugs with 3-5 seed then once germinated, place them in the containers.

Tormato · August 31, 2012

I'm not much of a fan of lettuce, and the using of space in my garden for it. However, when I do have a little bit of extra room, Italienischer is the only variety I'll plant.

Gary

stonysoilseeds · August 31, 2012

he mix will give you an assortmen wihout having o buy each lettuce packet individually and you can plant the seed in beds and pick he leaves raher han the enire plant o have a wide color array echant

enchant · August 31, 2012

Thanks for all the good info. I'm hoping for a good lettuce crop this year.

Medbury Gardens · August 31, 2012

If you like a variety that has a bit of crisp/crunch,ya cant go past any of the cos type lettuce which there are heaps of.

plainolebill · August 31, 2012

Kweik is a nice butterhead that's cold tolerant and tastes good. We planted some last fall and covered it with Reemay, it started sizing up nicely when the weather warmed a little in late winter/early fall. We've got one crop in now that will be ready in a few weeks then another to plant out for overwintering.

August 30, 2012	#1
enchant Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 142	Need lettuce recommendation We normally buy red leaf lettuce from the grocer and are happy with that. With this year's garden, we planted red leaf lettuce that we bought in 6-pack flats from the nearby nursery. I think it was called "Ruby Red Lettuce". They grew up very healthy and looked beautiful, but the truth is that when they were picked, they were pretty flimsy. If I was making a BLT, I'd need to stack them five or six deep to get any substance. They were so thin that even fresh and healthy off the plant, they really didn't seem crisp. So I'm looking at Johnny's seeds, and he's got over a hundred listed. The descriptions aren't specific enough to be able to make a wise choice, so I'm hoping someone here can give me a recommendation. I'd like something that wouldn't be too different from what I'd find in the store, and that has some substance to it. Also, with summer ending, can I put in new plants? When's a good time to plant? Is it already too late? I live a little south of Boston, MA. Thanks for any help.

August 30, 2012	#2
cornbreadlouie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: SF bay area... north bay Posts: 242	It's not exciting, but romaine is tasty, crispy and has pretty good structural rigidity right off the plant. I dunno if it's technically a lettuce, but chard makes a good sandwich addition. At the right time, they'll fit on a piece of bread without any chopping and the stems are usually still tender enough to eat at that point. It's never too late to plant lettuces, because you can eat them at any point in the growing process. __________________ Do You Like Worms?

August 30, 2012	#3
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	I would suggest getting from Johnny's a couple of his blends so you can have a variety of cutting lettuces for your table. Thats what I do. I also buy his arugula and Jericho romaine, which are very good. __________________ Michael

August 31, 2012	#8
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,220	I like the crisper texture of Batavia lettuces, Nevada is a green one I grow every year, Sierra has a reddish tinge, but seeds are harder to find. __________________ Dee **************

August 31, 2012	#10
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	The blend is a mix of seed. I use them in a hydroponic system, where I put 3-5 seed in a grow plug. I do the same for soil-start them in grow plugs with 3-5 seed then once germinated, place them in the containers. __________________ Michael

August 30, 2012	#4
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	For red leaf, I had good luck with "new red fire." For green leaf, I like "green ice." Black-Seeded Simpson is a classic green leaf as well.

August 30, 2012	#6
stonysoilseeds Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: cincinnatus, new york Posts: 341	i like red deer tounge and oak leaf i am planting a small bed of lettuce this weekend for late fall salads

August 30, 2012	#7
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Red Deer Tongue is one or my favorite red varieties also. Marvel of the Four Seasons is another good one.

August 31, 2012	#11
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,959	I'm not much of a fan of lettuce, and the using of space in my garden for it. However, when I do have a little bit of extra room, Italienischer is the only variety I'll plant. Gary

August 31, 2012	#14
Medbury Gardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Medbury, New Zealand Posts: 1,881	If you like a variety that has a bit of crisp/crunch,ya cant go past any of the cos type lettuce which there are heaps of. __________________ Richard

August 31, 2012	#15
plainolebill Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Williamette Valley, Oregon Posts: 33	Kweik is a nice butterhead that's cold tolerant and tastes good. We planted some last fall and covered it with Reemay, it started sizing up nicely when the weather warmed a little in late winter/early fall. We've got one crop in now that will be ready in a few weeks then another to plant out for overwintering.