This year for the first time I planted several lettuce plants. They are putting out big leaves and seem to be doing fine, but so far I dont see how they will form heads. Has anyone grown lettuce before, and how and when do they start to give heads?
2006-07-31 00:57:06 · 6 answers · asked by Kokopelli 7 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Oh, stupid me...I slipped up... it's cabbage, not lettuce. What do I know, duh. The picture on the pot the plants came in showed leaves with a nice tight head in the middle. It is called Ruby Perfection Cabbage and it had purple leaves.
2006-07-31 01:13:35 · update #1
Cabbage takes a long time to form heads. Be patient they will form. Uaually in late summer or early fall. Don't let them flower, and I would put a screen over them that lets the light in and keeps the cabbage moths and rabbits out. Good Luck!!!
2006-07-31 05:46:16 · answer #1 · answered by divacolour2 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I'd have to know what variety you planted, but basically, there are two kinds of lettuce...leaf and head. Iceberg is the only one that forms tight heads, other than some kinds of buttercrunch, which form loose heads. The others just form leaves. Leaf lettuce is usually grown in the summer, iceberg in the fall and winter.
You can cut teh leaves back with scissors to about 1 inch (they will come back out from the center), pull off only the outside leaves like you do collards and other greens, or you can pull the whole plant and use it.
BTW, leaf lettuce is better for you. Iceberg has no nutritional value.
2006-07-31 01:09:19 · answer #2 · answered by D. A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know i have planted head lettuce for many years and never got a head to form.. If you find out the answer to your question here could you e-mail me and let me know what the answer is.. my e-mail is freemansfreeman@yahoo.com..
I am now just planting leaf lettuce because the other hasn't worked.
Thanks sandy
2006-07-31 01:03:59 · answer #3 · answered by Sandy F 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on the style of lettuce. Maybe you have a "loose leaf" variety and not one that develops a "head" of lettuce.
Give it some time. See what turns out.
Good Luck!
2006-07-31 01:04:02 · answer #4 · answered by klund_pa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, first you need to wait until your stem lengthens and widens significantly. It takes a lot of patience to get head, and it won't happen while your stem is still short. But you also want to make sure you get head before she bolts on you... at that point, it is too late for head. (please refer to the Wikipedia article below for an explanation of what constitutes "bolting")
It's also very important to keep your stem free from insects and grubs, as these can be a tremendous hinderance to getting head. Several species of Lepidoptera grup can be particularly menacing to your stem, preventing it from ever reaching the appropriate girth.
2006-07-31 01:10:33 · answer #5 · answered by Firstd1mension 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ho ho ho! Watch me do the wacky dance!
2006-07-31 01:00:54 · answer #6 · answered by vichussmith 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋