Lettuce

Lively Lucious Lettuce

Lettuce’s Botanical Name

Lettuce or Latuca sativa as it is better known by botanists, is one of the most common vegetables around.

Growing lettuce

Growing organic lettuce is sometimes challenging, as there are a lot of nunu’s around that like to chomp of the soft tasty leaves. It germinates readily, sometime within one to two days. Exposing the seed to light before planting stimulates their germination. The small seeds can be scattered on the surface of the soil, either in a seed tray or bed. A light covering of soil is required. Once the seedlings are about eight centimetres tall they can be transplanted to where you want them to grow. If growing in situ, you can thin the seedlings.
It is an ideal all year round crop. Lettuce prefers to grow in a semi-shaded position in the summer, as it tends to bolt in the very hot summer conditions. The term “bolt” means that the lettuce starts to become elongated and send out a stem on which to produce flowers. It will then start to produce seed, which can be harvested if you have a particular kind of lettuce that you would like to grow again in the next season.
There are many kinds of lettuce, besides the crisphead one. You get lots of different varieties for example: butter lettuce, rosa and mustard lettuce. Experiment and grow your favourites.

Companions of Lettuce

Lettuce likes to grow with cucumber, strawberry, carrot, dill, turnip, cabbage, beetroot and radish. Onions and garlic help to keep the insects away. Wood ash sprinkled nearby is also helpful for this purpose.
If you have lots of nettles in your garden, a good mulch of nettle will keep your lettuce healthy.

Nutritional Value of Lettuce

Lettuce is packed with vitamins A, B and C. It also contains calcium. A naturally grown lettuce, is best consumed within 20 minutes of picking.

Processing lettuce

Lettuce is a versatile salad ingredient, and can be combined with any number of fresh vegetables for a delicious, health-giving dish. The salad can be served on the side, after the main meal or all on its own.
When you have an excess of lettuce you can make this delicious soup. Here is the recipe for it:
2 Tbls oil
Bunch of leeks
1 large lettuce
1 parsnip
2 cloves garlic
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 Tbls soya sauce
Salt and pepper
1 carrot finely sliced for garnish
Cream (optional)

Slice up all the leeks, lettuce and parsnip. Heat the oil and add the leeks, brown lightly. Add the lettuce, parsnip, garlic and broth. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Cool and puree the soup. Return to the pot and add the soya sauce, salt and pepper. Serve hot or cold, and garnish with strips of carrot. Add a dash of cream if you desire.
Enjoy your soup…a lettuce a day, keep the doctor away.