Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce)

Lettuce is doing so well. I am growing 5-6 types of Lettuce. Above there is Red Leaf (top) and Green Romaine (bottom) Lettuce.  

Lettuce (Sunny)

I typically pick the outer leaves of Sunny Lettuce plants as I need it, but I have some much now I'm just cut the entire plant. 

 

Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce)

This Leaf Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce) is growing well. I am picking it every day by selecting the largest leaves on the outside of the plants and allowing the new leaf growth in the center of the plant to continue growing. By harvesting in this manner, you can get more out of one plant and using less space.  

Mesclun Lettuce

Mesclun Lettuce

Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce)

Sunny Lettuce to growing quickly.

These plants sprouted a little later and I transplanted many plants to spread them out.

I collected these seeds from one of the Lettuce plants that bolted. I'm growing four types of Lettuce, besides the Sunny Lettuce, and once I collect enough, I will mix them and plant them like you would Mesclun Lettuce.

Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce)

Lettuce is starting to sprout all over the place (left planter). I need to find more places to transplant some of these sprouts.

 

Sunny Lettuce

I planted Sunny Lettuce on 26 October from my seed stock and it started to sprout about 6 days later. These pictures were taken on 4 November.

These seeds sprouted too and was doing well, but suddenly disappeared. When I looked carefully I found a snail. I removed the snail and transplanted some seedlings from the other planter. They are growing well.

Lettuce (Mesclun and Sunny Lettuce)

This Mesclun Lettuce is doing great. It wilts back during the day, but bounces right back without any damage in the evening after I water it. 

This Sunny Lettuce is doing well. I just pick off the leaves to make a salad and in 2-3 days there are new leaves to pick. I have Sunny Lettuce scattered in different places and am constantly planting seeds in any free space I find. It takes a while for Sunny Lettuce to get started, but once it gets going it really produces. 

Sunny Lettuce (Red Leaf Lettuce)

(12/30) The top two planters contain Sunny Lettuce (Red Leaf Lettuce). I planted the top planter about a month before the second and it is now starting to bolt. I will leave them flower and harvest the seeds for future planting. The third planter contains Pakuchi (Cilantro) and the bottom, green onions.

I planted this Lettuce on 8 October about a month after the second container, along with some beets.

I need to get some more Lettuce growing, so planted more seeds. This is Green Lettuce. It is a loose leaf Lettuce like Sunny Lettuce, but the leaves do not turn red.

 

Sunny Lettuce (Red Leaf Lettuce)

(10/21) The Sunny Lettuce (Red Leaf Lettuce) in the back is growing well. I've already picked Lettuce from these plants twice to make salads. The Lettuce in the front container is just starting to sprout, but the beets are growing faster. 

Sunny Lettuce (Red Leaf Lettuce)

(10/8) The Sunny Lettuce (Red Leaf Lettuce) in the two white planters is doing fine. I planted more Lettuce in the black planter in three spots (left, right and center), but nothing on the edges, so I transplanted some Beets to take advantage of the empty space.

 

Tower

Starting to see Mesclun sprout and one little Beets in the center.

I can see some Italian Parsley sprouting and again one little Beet.

 

Sunny Lettuce (Red Leaf Lettuce)

(10/2) The Sunny Lettuce (Red Leaf Lettuce) plants are developing well.

 

Sunny Lettuce (Red Leaf Lettuce)

(9/29) I sewed Lettuce seed in these containers twice, once about three weeks ago and again about a week ago. I am not sure if my seed stock is poor or it is just the weather, but some are finally starting to sprout.

 

Red Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce) Seed Stock

(6/8) I had some Red Leaf Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce) plants bolt and flower. I was trying to collect the seeds, but it kept raining; therefore, I cut the tops of the plants off and hung them upside down to mature and dry.

I rub the pods between my hands and the seeds drop out. After that I remove any cotton like fluffy and debris until I have pure seed. 

Red Leaf Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce)

(5/30) The color of Red Leaf Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce) is dependent on the sun. The more direct sunlight it gets, the redder. This particular plant grew naturally from dropped seeds on the top tier of my tower, so it got lots of sunlight. Looks absolutely beautiful. 

I sewed these Lettuce seeds in early May, but something ate all the sprouts, so I sewed again about two weeks ago and put a net over the planter. They are starting to sprout again.

I sewed these Lettuce seeds in a starter trey on 15 May

The Lettuce started to sprout on 23 May 

I transplanted the Lettuce from the starter trey to planters 

I transplanted these plants from the starter trey to a planter and covered with a net. I will see the difference as they mature. My guess is they will grow the same but these plants will not get red due to the lack of direct sunlight.

I sewed these Lettuce seeds on 19 May and covered with Saran wrap and poked many holes for air the get through. Some plants sprouted, but not as many as I hoped. Perhaps I do not have enough holes. I make some more.

Red Leaf Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce)

(5/15) I planted Red Leaf Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce) at the same time I transplanted my Tomato seedlings. 

(5/23) Today I noticed Red Leaf Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce) seedlings sprout.

Red Leaf Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce)

(5/19) I planted some Sunny Lettuce about three weeks ago, but something ate the sprouts, so I prepared a new planter and covered it with saran wrap for protection and to speed up germination.  

Lettuce and Beans

This planter has Red (Sunny) and Green leaf lettuce, plus beans. I suspected ropes for the beans to climb. The are already starting to flower, but not sure if the beans are Bush beans or Flat beans. 

Red Lead Lettuce 

Green Lettuce and Beans, but again I do not know which type of bean since I planted both types. but they are flowering so will know soon enough.

Red Leaf Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce)

My Sunny Lettuce (Red Leaf Lettuce) is almost ready to start harvesting. Leaves that turn mostly red will be ready to pick, while the green leaves in the center will remain to mature. I can typically pick leaves from one plant five or 6 times, which means one plant alone can produce a lot.

(27 Dec) I prepared four cups with Sunny Lettuce seeds on (5 December) and they just started to sprout. I will transplant these to a larger planter once they get taller. After I transplant them, I will start this process again so I can have a constant supply of Lettuce.

(3 Jan) Red Leaf Lettuce (Sunny Lettuce) sprouts doing well.