Letus not grow Lettuce (forum)

Charles cant spell starts with ...
Sorry if Vegetable topics are not the preffered infomation here. But I just thought I would highlight a few points and have a rant :). In summary lettuce is generally harder to grow than alternative salad vegies and is far less healthy.

http://www.guinealynx.info/diet_vegs.html

In this table please take the time to look at the levels of useful food value in lettuce vs alternatives like, Kale, Beetroot leaves, Parsely, Fat Hen, Purslane, Rocket etc. These all grow like weeds in comparison to lettuce. Especially in places like Perth where its just to hot most of the year.

People often argue that Beetroot leaves, parsely, Purslane etc should all be eaten only a little bit due to the higher mg's of Oxalic acid, while they do have more oxalic acid this is a ratio issue, they have 10-100 times more other stuff Vit C etc, but only 2-3 times more Oxalic Acid.

I recomend people ditch the lettuce its a supermarket/hydroponics con. Grow something nutricous given you have gone to so much effort to improve your soil and try and eat healthy home grown food. No matter how good your soil lettuce wont bring those neutrients to your body.

Time: 31st December 2009 3:33pm

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
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amanda says...
GO Charles!! :) I only grow Cos lettuce myself - it's YUMMY (sorry Kert..not) and makes great Cesear salad.

Time: 31st December 2009 10:18pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Brad says...
I'm with Charles - I only get bitter lettuce if we get any hot weather while I'm growing lettuce. If we don't and it grows nice and quick, then the cos is good

minor hijack: I put in some seed today labelled summer spinach. Anyone know what that actually is? (I previously took something off my mum that was labelled spinach but was some kind of beet)

happy 2010

Time: 31st December 2009 10:32pm

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About the Author Brad2
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Brendan says...
Hi Brad, amanda & Charles,
If you want sweet lettuce, give 'em some Epsom Salts.

Works for me:-)

Time: 1st January 2010 10:09am

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amanda says...
Hi guys, summer spinach is/should be english spinach that is supposed to be slower to bolt in the warmer weather. I use it in my salads more than lettuce. I have got some ceylon spinach to try and finally got a warrigal greens up n running.

You really need to grow 'salad greens' under shade cloth in Perth - the sunlight is just too intense (let alone the heat) making them tough n bitter and bolt.

I have to say I agree with you to a certain extent Charles - there are many lovely substitutes for boring iceberg lettuce out there - it must be a very resource demanding crop to grow in WA.

Brendan - do u think the epsom salts trick would work for other salad type greens too?

Time: 1st January 2010 12:10pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Julie says...
Brad, I used to grow beetroot mainly for the leaves, which are very like spinach. I don't think I tried them raw though. Bonus crop - roots and leaves!

Oh! That sounds like one of those wombat jokes!

Time: 1st January 2010 3:09pm

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Brendan says...
Hi amanda,
Yep, epsom salts will make all fruit & veg sweeter. (and greener). It does wonders on home grown garlic too.

I'm working on a very sour seedling orange tree at the moment, but I think all the rain we're having lately is washing it all away :-( We've had 170mm since Mon 28th Dec 09.)

I liked the wombat joke Julie!
Did you know that beetroot was grown only for it's leaves a very long time ago?

Time: 2nd January 2010 9:12am

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amanda says...
Ta Brendan - I will definitely try it. I am green every time I look at the 4 day forecast chart - but as long as someone is getting the rain at last it's all good!
We have 40oC 2day n 2morrow...gross :-( It shaping up to be a very hot & windy summer in Gero. My poor plants.

Time: 2nd January 2010 10:28am

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About the Author amanda19
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MaryT says...
Ceylon spinach cuttings are doing well after 10 days - thanks, Mike! I wonder if it would grow in a pot? They are demanding a new home.
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Time: 12th February 2012 9:42am

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About the Author MaryT
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Mike says...
Mary they are fine in a pot and can volunteer foliage for consumption at the same rate as their growth.Runners can be broken off to start new plants.

Time: 12th February 2012 10:09am

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MaryT says...
Thanks, Mike. I am looking forward to eating particularly the green one; it is much prized in Chinese cuisine as a vegetable.

Time: 12th February 2012 10:18am

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About the Author MaryT
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Mike says...
I just had some visitors who have a better garden than me and regularly go to Malaysia.They have a big collection of fruit trees,herbs and vegies and took maybe 10 herbs and vegies with them.I may be able to get a suite of new plants from them sometime and will always find spots for good plants.Your parcel tomorrow has more variety as seeds take up less space.You may have more questions than last time.

Time: 12th February 2012 10:28am

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MaryT says...
I can tell you that google's been running hot around here with all your exotic (to me) plants arriving in waves. :) BTW the lemon grass and garlic chives have thrived in 10 days.
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Time: 12th February 2012 11:15am

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Mike says...
I was sure it was all pretty main stream but you better crank up google on Monday evening to get all the answers.The only reason I sent the above common stuff is that I thought you might not have the best culinary strains and I have already weeded out the imposters.You have a greener thumb than I Mary as it is the law of the jungle at my place.The pepper was flung in unprotected as an afterthought so may need specialattention if it is to survive.

Time: 12th February 2012 12:19pm

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MaryT says...
I know Mike; I was complaining about my lemon grass before and your garlic chive looks superior. I will get yours to seed so I'll have a better strain.

It's a jungle around here too.
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Time: 12th February 2012 1:32pm

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Mike says...
It will be interesting to see if climate is a big factor with them as well as the strain.

Time: 12th February 2012 1:57pm

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MaryT says...
That's true, Mike. I feel fortunate in this handkerchief plot; it's tiny but it's protected and I get to say hello to every plant every day. Also, the weather here is mild.

Time: 12th February 2012 7:08pm

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snottiegobble says...
For me Charles, the mignonette lettuce grows well here in summer, doesnt rush to seed, & tastes good, while rocket( like corriander) just goes to seed. So for us & our guests there is always lettuce included in garden salad along with a little French sorrel,& a mixture of basils.

Time: 12th February 2012 7:43pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
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Speedy says...
Lettuces have naturalised in my garden so I have lots of volunteer plants.
I do like lettuce, but it's only ever a portion of the total salad leaves eaten here, but I'll continue to grow it anyway.
I'm quite tolerant of bitter lettuce and kind of like it anyway.
stem lettuce is also a favorite of mine.

other 'naturalised' greens in my garden...
sand rocket (Diplotaxus sp.)
rocket (Eruca sativa)...big patches come up at a time and I'll often artificially drench small areas of the garden at different times of the year to get a continuous supply.

beets ...silverbeet and beetroot
bladder campion (Silene sp.) young tender shoots traeted the same way as asparagus.
purselane a largerleaved form of it
dandelion
chickory (radicchio, catanogna and others.
fat hen (Chenopodium album)
Huazontle and Quelite(C.nuttallii, C.berlandieri)
Amaranthus spp.
wild and cultivated vars. of mustards
kale occasionally comes up on it's own and so is left to grow.

Sorrel is a favorite of the kids

Magnesium is at the centre of chlorophyl molecule so is essential for it's production within plants.
It's also a good antidote to excess Nitrogen (or Potassium) in plants...but it's all about balance.

interestingly Potassium and Magnesium deficiencies appear simmilar in many plants...yellowing of older lvs.
generally sandy soils need a bit more Mg than in clayey soils.

Time: 13th February 2012 9:13am

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About the Author Speedy
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MaryT says...
Thanks Speedy for the menu suggestion of greens! Magnesium!! Thanks for that tip as well. I love Chinese lettuce but can't get it here (or I have not seen it). What are bitter lettuce and stem lettuce your mentioned?

Time: 13th February 2012 9:55am

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About the Author MaryT
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Speedy says...
stem lettuce is what I'm guessing you mean by Chinese lettuce...
aka Celtuce, Asparagus lettuce,
Wo ju, Wo ju sun, jing wo ju , Ngao lei shaang tsoi
... popular in China.
It's available in cans in Asian food/grocery shops.
Minara seeds (y'know the seed pkts you see in asian grocery stores) sometimes have it.
one I have, none growing atm, has long leaves , up to 50cm long.
My friend who gave that one to me many years ago (a Chinese Malay ) called it duckling Lettuce.

when it comes up again I'll get some seed to you if you like.
I also have a smaller one with crinkley lvs.

a quick search found this
http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l2736&_nkw=celtuce


Bitter lettuce , not a bitter variety ... just regular lettuce varieties that have gone a bit past (almost flowering) what most people would eat.
I can handle some fairly bitter tasting things :-)

Time: 13th February 2012 10:55pm

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About the Author Speedy
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MaryT says...
We should call this thread 'letus grow lettuce" lol - sorry, Charles. Guess there's lettuce and lettuce. :)

Thanks Speedy; I'll look out for it!

p.s. - I had a look at the link - not, Celtuce ain't it (not what I mean)

Time: 13th February 2012 11:00pm

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About the Author MaryT
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Brendan says...
Hi Mike (or anyone else), I was going to try some Celtuce (Lactuca sativa var, augustana), and was wondering if anyone had some spare seeds?
Celtuce stem is mainly used, not the leaves, good in stir-frys and salad etc.

I'm think eden seeds list it in their catalog?

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Time: 23rd May 2012 8:20am

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About the Author Brendan
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Mike says...
Brendan I have never even heard of it.I will check the eden seed dispensery at the local eco shop.

Time: 25th May 2012 7:42pm

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Brendan says...
Thanks Mike. Celtuce is actually a 'lettuce', the stem is mainly used for eating, but I'm sure the leaves can be used as well, even though they look a bit thin.

Speaking of thin, I'm growing 'wild rocket' for the first time this year, boy is it hot! It's a lot thinner than 'normal' rocket, but 5 times hotter :-)

Time: 26th May 2012 8:10am

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MaryT says...
Yes, Brendan; you use 'wild rocket' as a flavouring like herbs rather than a vegetable. They are 'fatter' if they don't get too much sun. :)

Time: 26th May 2012 11:40am

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amanda says...
U might want to watch any seeds on the wild rocket Brendan...it's managed to grow wild on my block (which means it is a great candidate for "invasive")

Doesn't bother me -but with increased rainfall it could really get going....

Time: 27th May 2012 10:24am

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About the Author amanda19
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MaryT says...
Amanda it's impossible to 'watch' the wild rocket seeds - they're so tiny ;) The only thing you can do is to behead the flowers. I actually welcome them; if I have to have weeds, then let me have edible ones; I'm with Speedy on that. I chop a handful of them and put them on a plate then plonk a good steak on top as it rests. YUM Makes a good 'pesto' with walnuts and put on plain boiled potatoes, pasta or chicken breast.

Time: 27th May 2012 10:46am

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Julie says...
amanda, I guess it is invasive, as we have not been allowed to bring in seeds from the E. states for many years.

Thinking about growing some, but decided my watercress is quite hot enough for me, so I'll stick with that.



Time: 27th May 2012 8:03pm

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About the Author Julie
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MaryT says...
Well, Amanda, you might get a visit from men in white suits to come and get you and your invasive weeds :) My suggestion: eat the evidence LOL

Time: 27th May 2012 8:47pm

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About the Author MaryT
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Mike says...
Heya Mary is everything alright down there?
My vegies and herbs have almost exploded with growth in the last week.I will struggle to give away all the boks,paks and those other chinese greens with no names.Peperomia and common coriander have gone bezerk.I have a citrus and paw paw glut as well and most will be wasted the way it is shaping up.

Time: 27th May 2012 9:34pm

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MaryT says...
Hi Mike I can only imagine the growth at your place. Wish I can beam myself up there and pick a few vegetables :) No explosion around here; it's too cold and my plot gets a lot less sun in the winter until the jacaranda surrenders its shade and lets in more light. The peperomia didn't make it but the shiso is flowering - crazy isn't it? The spinach is also good. One pepper vine's still hanging in there. I've been enjoying your shallots; they are really good. Thanks so much for everything.

Time: 27th May 2012 9:58pm

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Brendan says...
Hi amanda, my wild rocket is growing in my raised garden bed, and so far it hasn't escaped outside, but I will keep an eye on it.
I'm like MaryT, it's great with steak, tomatoes, garlic & lettuce :-)
Mike, Eden Seeds do have Celtuce, so I'll grab some. Thanks.
http://www.edenseeds.com.au/content/default.asp

Time: 28th May 2012 8:35am

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