Salads are becoming increasingly popular not only as a side dish but also as a full meal. There are many different varieties that differ in taste and appearance. If you are a hobby gardener and don't want to choose just one variety, you can also cultivate mixed lettuce in the garden bed. The advantage here is that there is always fresh green available for the kitchen from spring to autumn, because a good mix of early and late lettuce varieties is ideal for the garden bed.
types of lettuce
lettuce
Lettuce is of course one of the oldest and most well-known varieties. It is characterized above all by its rounded, large shape reminiscent of a head and forms large, green, delicate leaves. It is also known by the nickname green lettuce. Whereas today the salad is usually only prepared raw, in the Middle Ages it was mainly enjoyed cooked. It is easy to care for and can be grown in almost any garden bed.
- Location sunny and warm
- nutrient-rich and permeable substrate
- Enrich the soil with compost before sowing
- sow in March in the cold frame
- Transplant outdoors in May
- give plenty of water, avoid waterlogging
- Snails prefer lettuce
- has the ability to shoot
- then becomes unusable
lettuce
When the lettuce has reached a nice round shape and size in the summer, it should be harvested in its entirety. If this happens too late, a flower stalk is formed in the center, the lettuce shoots. Then it can no longer be used in the kitchen, but the seeds can mature and be used for sowing next year.
romaine lettuce
The oldest known lettuce is the romaine lettuce, better known as romaine lettuce. Due to the crunchy leaves and the tart taste, it is very popular in the kitchen and, above all, it is impossible to imagine Cesar's salad without it. The cultivation is quite simple, so that it has already found its way into the local gardens. So, caring for romaine lettuce should look like this.
- sunny location
- Substrate moist and nutritious
- sow from April to the end of July
- Planting also takes place in April
- water a lot
- susceptible to snails and aphids
romaine lettuce
Depending on when the romaine lettuce was sown, it can be harvested between June and October. The lettuce plants can then be stored in the refrigerator for four days.
oak leaf lettuce
The tasty oak leaf lettuce is a pick lettuce in which only individual leaves are picked for use, while the rest of the lettuce continues to grow and can therefore be harvested several times from one plant. The oak leaf lettuce is characterized above all by its curled leaves and its nutty taste. If he gets the right conditions in the garden bed, care is easy.
- loose, humus-rich soil
- low in nutrients
- little fertilizer in the form of compost
- sunny and warm location
- many water gifts
- from March sowing in the cold frame
- from April sowing in the garden bed
- is often attacked by mildew, snails and aphids
oak leaf lettuce
Due to the properties of the lettuce, it can be harvested again and again throughout the summer and should therefore always be used fresh and not stored in the refrigerator. This is not good for the delicate leaves and they wither quickly.
iceberg lettuce
Iceberg lettuce is very popular in the kitchen. However, it got its name because it used to be stored and shipped on mountains of ice. The iceberg is a very vitamin-rich salad that can be kept fresh for a long time, but also retains its crunch for a long time. Cultivation is also quite easy for garden beginners and beginners, so this type of lettuce should not be missing in any garden bed. Care should be taken to ensure the following.
- sow from March in the cold frame
- Sow outdoors from the end of April to July
- sunny location
- Soil nutrient-rich and loose
- high water demand
- protect against pests with nets
- fertilize regularly with compost
iceberg lettuce
Iceberg lettuce is ready to harvest after two to three months. Here it is separated with a sharp knife at the base or pulled out with the root. It is best to harvest early in the morning, before the sun has warmed the lettuce. Iceberg lettuce will keep in the fridge for two to three weeks without losing its crispness.
Lollo bionda and rosso
Two other types of lettuce that fall under the pick lettuce are the lollo bionda and the lollo rosso. These two types of lettuce differ only in color, with the Bionda only developing light green leaves, but the Rosso's leaves are green/reddish in color. These two salads do not differ in taste, they both taste nutty and tender. And the easy cultivation of the two pick-lettuces is also the same.
Lollo rosso
- Sow in the cold frame in March
- Sow outdoors from April
- is well suited for pre-culture
- Location sunny to semi-shady
- Substrate rich in nutrients, fresh and permeable
- fertilize several times with compost
- water sufficiently
- is often attacked by snails and aphids
- regularly harvest leaves by picking them off
- this is how new leaves grow
Lollo Bionda
arugula
The rocket is also known as rocket and is a popular salad in Italian cuisine. Here it is not only served as a side salad but also used as a condiment. In recent years it has also become increasingly popular in local kitchens. The leaves of this type of lettuce are also reminiscent of dandelion in appearance, but are shorter and narrower. The cultivation of the easy-care arugula looks like this.
- Location sunny
- Soil sandy and loamy
- water a lot
- fertilize little
- is sown between April and September
- the harvest takes place until October/November
arugula
Batavia lettuce
Batavia salad is still relatively new on the local market. This is a cross between a lettuce and an iceberg lettuce. This is shown above all by its leaves, which are reminiscent of a lettuce and an iceberg lettuce at the same time. If the lettuce originally comes from France and is now mainly grown in the Netherlands, it can also be cultivated in the local garden beds.
- Sow outdoors between March and July
- Property of shooting is absent
- can be harvested well into autumn
- sunny location
- Substrate rich in nutrients and permeable
- enough water
- fertilize with compost
Batavia lettuce
Since the Batavia lettuce has red-edged green leaves, which are firmer than those of lettuce but look similar, it is also often used for decorative purposes on platters and plates.
endive
Endive lettuce is a late variety, harvested in late summer to early fall. The endive has many minerals and vitamins and is therefore so popular in the kitchen. The heads of lettuce are recognizable by the curled leaves, which give every salad plate a special look. Care is not difficult and should be done as follows.
- Location sunny
- Sow between April and May
- Substrate humic, well drained and rich in nutrients
- water regularly
- fertilize regularly with compost
- Enrich the bed with compost before sowing
- suffers from snail infestation
endive
Chicory
Not everyone counts the chicory among the salads, especially since its shape is not reminiscent of a salad but rather of a cabbage vegetable. The lettuce plant is particularly popular with our neighbors in France and the Benelux countries and is therefore also known as Brussels lettuce. The chicory has the particularity that it can be served both hot and cold. The compact head of lettuce is elongated and grows up to 15 cm long. Care is relatively easy and is listed as follows.
- Location sunny
- Substrate nutritious and permeable
- fertilize with compost
- pour little
- Do not harvest chicory whole
- only use the outer leaves
- so it can grow back
Chicory
Chicory is ready to harvest in summer if sown between April and May.
Lamb's lettuce
Lamb's lettuce is a winter lettuce, also known as field lettuce or rapunzel lettuce. It owes its popularity mainly to the many vitamins it contains and the ease of cultivation. Lamb's lettuce is tasty and versatile. Only reading the individual sheets takes a little time. Gardening beginners can also take care of the popular lettuce, and the plant can also be cultivated on the balcony or terrace if there is no garden bed available.
- location in full sun
- original sowing in autumn
- now also possible from April
- the seed also tolerates sub-zero temperatures
- pour little
- do not fertilize
- is often attacked by snails and aphids
Lamb's lettuce
Due to its winter hardiness, the lamb's lettuce can be harvested all year round, the time depends on the sowing. The individual leaves of the lamb's lettuce are cut with scissors, so that one plant can be harvested several times. The salad now consists of around 80 different varieties, all of which vary in taste, from aromatic to nutty. Once harvested, the leaves should be used quickly as they do not tolerate prolonged storage,
radicchio
A relative of chicory, radicchio can be grown in either a red or green variety. The red variety Rosso Chioggia in particular is very popular for decorative purposes in the local kitchen. The radicchio is served cold as a salad, but also more and more often cooked and warm. The cultivation of the easy-care lettuce is not difficult and can therefore be easily carried out by gardening beginners.
- sunny to partially shaded location
- nutrient-rich and deep substrate
- Garden bed enriched with compost
- Sow from June to July
- water a lot
- Loosen the soil regularly
- hardy varieties
radicchio
Radiccio is usually harvested in autumn. However, in order to obtain a red colour, the lettuce variety must be exposed to a greater temperature fluctuation, which often occurs between day and night in the early part of winter.
sugarloaf
The slightly bitter tasting sugar loaf is a winter salad. Also known as meat cabbage or autumn chicory, it owes its name to its appearance, although in this respect it is actually similar to Chinese cabbage. However, it doesn't get that high. If you grow the sugar loaf in your own garden, you can still harvest fresh lettuce in winter and put it on the table. The demands on its care are not very high and can therefore also be easily managed by gardening beginners.
- Location partially shaded to sunny
- nutrient-rich and permeable substrate
- Sowing takes place in summer
- so can be harvested in late autumn and winter
- regular watering
- can be attacked by gray mold and aphids
sugarloaf
dandelion
Whether the dandelion is a weed, a herb or a type of lettuce is still a matter of debate. However, the dandelion is quite tasty and can certainly be served as a salad. However, if it is cultivated as a salad in your own garden, then unhindered propagation must be avoided. It is therefore important to ensure that the dandelion plants are harvested before a flower forms. On the other hand, if you don't want to do without the equally tasty flowers for cooking, you have to keep an eye on seed formation. So the dandelion can be grown in your own garden as follows.
dandelion
- partially shaded to sunny location
- Substrate rich in nutrients and loose
- is sown from March to September
- water regularly
- Snails also prefer the dandelion