Tag Archives: romaine

Next year’s lettuce

This year, I planted “Black Seeded Simpson” leaf lettuce and wasn’t all that impressed. It wasn’t bad, but it was the only thing in the garden that I didn’t look forward to harvesting more of after I took the first bunch. The spinach also was a disappointment, but only because it all didn’t come up. Next year I think I will skip the leaf lettuce and just plant more romaine and spinach, or choose a red variety of lettuce.

Winter planting plans

I scheduled some plantings for the fall, which can be seen on the calendar on the side of the (non-facebook) site. I will be planting broccoli, peas, romaine, spinach, and radishes. I was hoping to do a little more, but I waited too long to start anything else (cucumbers or more summer squash specifically).

Weekly update – June week 1

I think there is going to be a battle between the squash and the broccoli. The broccoli plants are mature and encroaching on the space around them, and the squash is starting to do what it does, and that is spread. The tomato plants are growing by what seems to be inches every day. The daily romaine and lettuce salads with peas and broccoli are quite rewarding and a reminder of just how easy it is. They also help keep me motivated to go out and keep the weeds at bay.

Weekly update

I don’t have any pictures to post at the end of this week since it has been raining all day, but I was able to get out this weekend and plant more lettuce and romaine seedlings, along with radish, carrot, and spinach seeds. It sounds like it should be subsiding overnight, so I will try to get some pictures posted tomorrow.

 Even thought the rain is keeping me (mostly) indoors, it looks like it is doing wonders for what’s in the ground. I think the broccoli is about twice as big as it was a week ago, and the first radish and lettuce plants are taking off.  I have a feeling I will see some onion plants soon even though the sets were planted in the last two days.  I am also looking forward to getting the tomato and pepper plants fully acclimated and ready to plant.

Room to grow

This evening I transplanted my tomato seedlings into larger containers, and was hoping to do the same with my peppers but I ran out of supplies. Once they’ve had a few days to settle in, I am going to begin hardening them by taking them outdoors in the evening at first, and then progressing to putting them in a shady spot in the morning to sit all day. Once they make it through that, I will leave them in the sun and only take them in at night when the temp dips down. It sounds like a little bit of work, but I didn’t do this much with the broccoli which led to its demise. Oh, and I am doing the quick version of this now with the lettuce and romaine I will be planting this week as well.

Starting to grow

Here are some pictures of the squares that are showing signs of life. These were taking last night, and unfortunately I think my pepper plant may have took a turn for the worse. This morning it is all shriveled and droopy. I probably should be bringing it in at night when it gets cold. I guess if it does die I will just go back to Lowe’s and buy another one.
Bed 2 on 4/17/2010

Onions and Peppers

Bed 4 on 4/17/2010

Spinach?

Bed 4 on 4/17/2010

Broccoli and Romaine

Bed 5 on 4/17/2010

Peas, Lettuce and Broccoli

Could have been better, could have been worse

After I planted the lettuce and broccoli seedlings, we received a small bit of frost. Lost most of the broccoli, but all of the lettuce and romaine turned out fine. Since the frost occurred a day after I planted them and then we had sunny days,  I am wondering if I didn’t harden them enough and the sun may have finished the job. Either way, that’s what the garden stores are for. I picked up a tray of nine seedlings, which was plenty, and stuck six of them in the ground. They look a lot better than the ones I had anyway.