Grow your own lettuce
Fall is Salad Garden season in central Texas and with the 100+ degree days behind us, October is the time to plant even the most heat-sensitive greens. The first that comes to mind is lettuce.
How do you plant lettuce?
As much as we like to avoid the emotionally charged subjects here at TEXAS RAISED GARDENS, alas, sometimes gardening is full of 'em, so here we go: There's a bit of debate about lettuces in the kitchen garden. Some say without any doubt that lettuces should NEVER be planted as transplants, they should only be planted as seeds. It is true that lettuce roots are super crazy delicate. But I do both, and think you should, too. Plant a row about 9 inches apart per plant with lettuce TRANSPLANTS. Yes, you heard that right Garden Mafia, don't come for me. Also have a packet or two of mixed lettuce seeds to sow about a pinch between them, and in any other open garden space, every few weeks. Using the cut-and-come-again approach, you may get 3-5 harvests off a single plant, then a seed packet will give you many more for months to come. If/when you do transplant lettuce, just be very very gentle!
Why we plant lettuce in the fall in central Texas - especially waiting until October or later.
While even in an average September we may get several 90+ degree days and 75+ degree nights, the 60-80 degree averages we get around the clock in October is really what lettuce wants to be happy. Yes, we may get the oddball warm spell, and if we do, and if you have your lettuce in an especially sunny spot (they only need 4-6 hours of direct sun), it may "bolt," which is a stress tantrum process causing a stiff, vertical, not-tasty stem to come up from the center and bloom flowers. Don't let that happen! If it starts to, prune it off down at the base. Luckily, it's October, so that's less likely to happen!
Other tips about growing lettuce.
Lettuce needs well-drained soil, always use natural products! And if it’s still early fall and the caterpillars come around chewing holes in your leaves, consider a row cover to keep the moths from flying in. Harvest a couple leaves at a time from the bottom - not removing more than 1/3 of the plant per week. If you are growing a red or purple-leafed variety and notice the color turning more green, this could be from excess nitrogen, which is commonly found if you fertilize too much. Just lay off the fertilizer and it should come back!
So plant your lettuce with confidence this October! (and November, December, January or February!) Enjoy. :-)