Week 2 - The Lettuce is Growing!

Here we are at week two. During this post I am going provide some information about the lettuce that I am growing this season and on how the lettuce plants are progressing.

A couple of years ago a seed company that I ordered seeds from asked if I was interested testing some seeds. The company would send me the seed at no cost and I was to plant the seed and complete surveys about the seed several times during the growing season. For my efforts they offered a fairly decent credit on my next order. So I thought that was a good deal and it was but I have to admit it also was a lot of work completing the surveys. The surveys were done online and also included pictures of the plants progress. Since I begin testing seeds I have tested seeds that I would consider a failure and several varieties that I consider a success most notably a grape tomato variety and a cucumber variety. I will be planting these later in the season.

In 2011 I received a variety of lettuce called Salanova. This is a type of lettuce that can be grown as head lettuce or as leaf lettuce all depends on how you harvested it. My test was a rousing success and I have been looking for this seed since then and finally this year it is on the market; so I decided I am going to plant some. The seed is available form Johnny's Seeds. This company is an employee owned company that offers a great variety of seed for the small and large gardener. The seed is expensive, about $0.15 a seed. A nice feature is that the seed is pelletized which makes it easier to work with. Information about the lettuce variety can be found by clicking here.

Information about the plant breeder who developed the Salanova seed can be found by clicking here.

When most people plant lettuce they broadcast the seeds in a row. When it is mature they cut it off near the ground. Depending on the time of the year the lettuce can grow back for another harvest. With Salanova you get one harvest as you cut the plant at ground level when you harvest. If you want head lettuce you leave the core in the head. If you want leaf you remove the core with a paring knife or the special tool that comes free when you order the seed.

Salanova lettuce comes in two leaf types and several colors. The culture of Salanova lettuce is different than other varieties. The main difference is that Salanova requires that seed be started and then transplanted to the location where it grows to maturity. Salanova is a heavy producer as one head of Salanova produces about four of the salad mix bags that you typically find in the grocery store. So a small number of plants go a long way.

I don't know if you can tell from the pictures in my previous post that I planted seven seeds and all the seeds germinated. Now the seeds are growing in the AeroGarden until the seedlings are about 3-4 weeks old. At that point I will transplant to one of my Earthboxes. I will move the Earthbox to west room and put the box under a grow light. Then we will watch and see what happens. Below are some current pictures of the lettuce crop.

Remember, the seeds where planted February 1, 2013 to left is what the lettuce plants looked like last week, February 9, 2013 and to right are the same plants this week, February 16, 2013. Below are some additional pictures of the plants also taken on February 16, 2013.

At the rate these plants are growing I don’t know if I can wait till they are four weeks old to transplant to the Earthbox. Will need to do some research and make a decision to transplant or not transplant?

At any rate will need to ready an Earthbox and plant some spinach this week as it is near spring even though a blizzard is forecasted for next week. Come back next week to see how things are growing.

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