With so many varieties of lettuce to plant, how can you choose?
I suggest you plant varieites that will allow you to have the maximum season length possible. This means planting varieties that will mature quickly for an early season harvest, and varieties that will resist bolting for a late season harvest.
The seed catelogues are pretty good at describing varieites that fall into these categories. Late season varieites that I've found to be the most bolt resitant are Cherokee, Nevada, Rouge De Grenoblouse, and Sierra. Early season variety that'll give you lettuce quick are May Queen, and Black Seeded Simpson.
The best strategy for an early lettuce harvest is to plant a seperate lettuce patch just for harvesting early. Start cutting these leaves as soon as they become an edible size. Make this patch as large as is necessary for all of your lettuce needs until the patch that you're growing for full sized heads become that large.
Another criteria you may want to consider is nutritional value. Romaine lettuce has more nutrients than other types of lettuce.
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I didn't know Romaine had more nutrients than other lettuces. Interesting since I enjoy its taste more than the leafy or head types. I like the idea of growing a harvest-now area and a harvest-later area. Makes sense when you think about it. I think you've got some great advice here, dear sister. :)
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