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lettuce planting

• Message 1. 

  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Saturday, 21st May 2011

  Hi All,
  The weather here is a boiler again and watering all the veg / baskets etc is much needed, "hence" ive been watering away and seeing the verious plants coming along,
  
  Its funny the way you can be doing one thing yet your mind wonders back to days go by and how things are done differently these days,
  
  Im talking about planting lettuce plants (not seeds but plants)
  Years ago when i had the allotment we always made sure the soil was worked & then raked and then it was a case of making the space for the lettuce plant to fit into, Water it in / followed by slug pellets and the hand written sign warning any allotment robbers that the ground was mined?
  
  These days i plant the lettuce in the following way, i work the soil as before adding fish/blood & bone fertilizer and then the soil is ridged (made into a ridge shape) like when planting potatoes!
  
  Ive found this gives the roots a better spreading action and the lettuce seem to grow well without splashes over the lower leaves when watering or rain appears.
  
  Have any of you changed your ways of planting such veg? And if so how???
  
  Regards Punpun.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Logissimo (U14020652) on Saturday, 21st May 2011

  Hi punpun,
  
  Lucky you, all that rain yesterday and we've still not had a drop, lucky me i've got a borehole, says he smugly!
  
  I've stopped growing lettuce plants, hate seeing them bolting after I've only taken 2 or 3 of them. So it's "cut and come again for me" a couple of short rows of mixed varieties and a bit of rocket and that's all we need for summer and we do eat a lot of salads. Sorry, I lie, I do grow a few "little gems" early in the year too.
  
  Good tip in your last post about keeping salads fresh by the way, I also liked the birdcage basket idea too!
  
  If you think it's warm now, have you seen next week's forecast,..... 32°C, yikes! I look at the french weather site and the "rain" seems to be always a week away
  
  Have a grand weekend! L

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Grajean (U13953712) on Saturday, 21st May 2011

  Good idea re lettuce planting punpun! Another good idea re saving lettuce for another meal must try that.
  Logissimo I hope your wrong re weather temps next week- haven't seen that forecast for here NW, need rain desperately. We are lucky in having a "natural source" and keep the water barrel topped up by using this. No sign of my beetroots yet they are taking ages!

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Sunday, 22nd May 2011

  Hi punpun,
  
  Lucky you, all that rain yesterday and we've still not had a drop, lucky me i've got a borehole, says he smugly!
  
  I've stopped growing lettuce plants, hate seeing them bolting after I've only taken 2 or 3 of them. So it's "cut and come again for me" a couple of short rows of mixed varieties and a bit of rocket and that's all we need for summer and we do eat a lot of salads. Sorry, I lie, I do grow a few "little gems" early in the year too.
  
  Good tip in your last post about keeping salads fresh by the way, I also liked the birdcage basket idea too!
  
  If you think it's warm now, have you seen next week's forecast,..... 32°C, yikes! I look at the french weather site and the "rain" seems to be always a week away
  
  Have a grand weekend! L  Hi Logissimo,
  Smashing to hear from you and ive the answer to your bolting lettuce problem,
  
  Lets face it "No gardener should be without his own fresh lettuce"
  
  But lettuce as we all nkow can grow like hell, infact sometimes to fast for the table use,
  
  But what we need to do is to slow the lettuce down once it's getting to big,
  And it's so simple to do you'll kick yourself you've not thought of it,**
  
  All you do when you want to slow the growth down is just dig the complete lettuce out of it's growing place and leave it on top of the soil for 4 to 6 hours,
  
  you'll notice the leaves starting to look limp, after the time has passed just replant the lettuce from we're you dug it out and water it, (a really good water of the root ball area)
  
  two things here, (1) you'll slow the lettuce down by about a week, and (2) because lettuce have a very small root ball you'll find it easy to remove and re-plant.
  
  Ive done this practice for years and it works, but remember any lettuce you dont want to eat?
  You can put on the compost heap or try lettuce soup!
  
  Hope this Tip helps you return to lettuce growing?
  
  Regards Punpun.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Logissimo (U14020652) on Sunday, 22nd May 2011

  It's a great tip, punpun and I appreciate your advice; however the "salad leaves " mix gives me all that I want ; variation in colour, flavour etc.
  
  I'm sure others will take your advice!
  
  What about Grajean though and his lettuces, I suspect cutworm or moles. I've got moles and they really do cause havoc when the land is dry and they discover a watered plot,......especially vulnerable newly planted areas. I've got a mole which won't last long if he keeps being a nuisance in my borders and raised beds!
  
  Re lettuce soup, have you tried radish leaf soup, that's also very good!
  
  Happy Sunday evening! L

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Sunday, 22nd May 2011

  It's a great tip, punpun and I appreciate your advice; however the "salad leaves " mix gives me all that I want ; variation in colour, flavour etc.
  
  I'm sure others will take your advice!
  
  What about Grajean though and his lettuces, I suspect cutworm or moles. I've got moles and they really do cause havoc when the land is dry and they discover a watered plot,......especially vulnerable newly planted areas. I've got a mole which won't last long if he keeps being a nuisance in my borders and raised beds!
  
  Re lettuce soup, have you tried radish leaf soup, that's also very good!
  
  Happy Sunday evening! L  Hi L,
  Ref molds, i wrote a full page ref moles and how to get rid of them and how to understand them "a few years ago,
  Ive still got a copy of the write up and if you wan i'll put it on this thread?
  
  It really will have you rocking with laughter in some parts but give a very good understanding of the mole, How life works for these creatures and how the victorian gardeners delt with them, so just say the word and i'll sort it out.

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Logissimo (U14020652) on Monday, 23rd May 2011

  The word, punpun, the word!
  
  Here come the moles everyone!
  
  A bientôt L

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Monday, 23rd May 2011

  The word, punpun, the word!
  
  Here come the moles everyone!
  
  A bientôt L  Hi "L"
  And thanks for the word,
  As ive had visitors tonight and here it's 12pm, "And i did warn you it's a long thread ref this subject,"
  
  I'll get onto it tomorrow, (and i promise i'll spell mold correct as in moles)
  
  So the drama starts to morrow!!

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• Message 9

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