world's worst gardener's crappy lettuces
 

why do my lettuces grow enormously long stalks with the odd leaf here n
there, rather than making big chunky hearts?

tia

In article ws.net,
"Oxymel of Squill" writes:
|
| why do my lettuces grow enormously long stalks with the odd leaf here n
| there, rather than making big chunky hearts?

You planted stem lettuce by mistake?

I grow that - it is amusing and easier to grow than 'normal'
lettuce.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

not so far as I know, it just said lettuce on the packet.
:-)
how can even lettuce be complicated?



You planted stem lettuce by mistake?

I grow that - it is amusing and easier to grow than 'normal'
lettuce.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article ws.net,
Oxymel of Squill writes
why do my lettuces grow enormously long stalks with the odd leaf here n
there, rather than making big chunky hearts?

Not enough water, inducing the urge to propagate by seed and find a more
congenial habitat.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

The message ws.net
from "Oxymel of Squill" contains these words:

why do my lettuces grow enormously long stalks with the odd leaf here n
there, rather than making big chunky hearts?

They're under stress (too crowded, or inadequate soil, or too hot
or dry, or all of these), so bolting to seed prematurely. All lettuce do
it eventually, yours are just having a nervous breakdown and doing it
too fast and too soon.


Janet

In article ws.net,
Oxymel of Squill wrote:
not so far as I know, it just said lettuce on the packet.
:-)
how can even lettuce be complicated?

Lettuce go back to the beginning ....

Many cultivated plants have been bred into various different forms,
so things that we think are different are just different strains of
the same species. Perhaps the extreme one is Brassica oleracea,
which includes kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts, kohl rabi, broccoli
and many other forms. Lettuce is somwhat simpler, but still has
several very different strains.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ws.net,
Oxymel of Squill wrote:
not so far as I know, it just said lettuce on the packet.
:-)
how can even lettuce be complicated?

Lettuce go back to the beginning ....

You should be put up against a wall and shot for that one! ;o) eg

Janet Baraclough wrote:
The message ws.net
from "Oxymel of Squill" contains these words:

why do my lettuces grow enormously long stalks with the odd leaf
here n there, rather than making big chunky hearts?

They're under stress (too crowded, or inadequate soil, or too hot
or dry, or all of these), so bolting to seed prematurely. All lettuce
do it eventually, yours are just having a nervous breakdown and doing
it too fast and too soon.


Janet

I know how they feel... I think I bolted years ago....

Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article
ws.net,
Oxymel of Squill wrote:
not so far as I know, it just said lettuce on the packet.
:-)
how can even lettuce be complicated?

Lettuce go back to the beginning ....

Many cultivated plants have been bred into various different forms,
so things that we think are different are just different strains of
the same species. Perhaps the extreme one is Brassica oleracea,
which includes kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts, kohl rabi, broccoli
and many other forms. Lettuce is somwhat simpler, but still has
several very different strains.

Yes, but Oxymel has simply let the lettuces' soil dry out a bit too
much. They need to be kept growing in moist soil without a "check",
or they will go stalky -- the next stage would be flowering. No
worries: just sow some more seed tomorrow, and this time don't let
them dry out once they've germinated. Just a few at fortnightly
intervals, if you're that organised: think about how many you'll need
in the average week.

You can eat the leaves off the ones you've got, but they'll probably
taste rather bitter -- not a bad thing, when you consider endive and
radicchio. Oddly, the way to reduce apparent bitterness seems to be
salt rather than sugar; but one shouldn't overdo it, of course:
people ruin food with salt. There are recipes for lettuce soup out
there somewhere, and I imagine these bolted ones, maybe stalks and
all, would be very good for that -- try an Intenet search. Anyhow,
pull 'em out and plant something else.

--
Mike.

The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:
Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ws.net,
Oxymel of Squill wrote:
not so far as I know, it just said lettuce on the packet.
:-)
how can even lettuce be complicated?

Lettuce go back to the beginning ....

You should be put up against a wall and shot for that one! ;o) eg

Not before he communes with his maker.

Lettuce spray.

--
Rusty
Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

In article ,
"Mike Lyle" writes:
|
| You can eat the leaves off the ones you've got, but they'll probably
| taste rather bitter -- not a bad thing, when you consider endive and
| radicchio. Oddly, the way to reduce apparent bitterness seems to be
| salt rather than sugar; but one shouldn't overdo it, of course:
| people ruin food with salt. There are recipes for lettuce soup out
| there somewhere, and I imagine these bolted ones, maybe stalks and
| all, would be very good for that -- try an Intenet search. Anyhow,
| pull 'em out and plant something else.

Right, in all respects. Lettuce soup isn't bad when made with
decent stock and loose, relatively dark lettuce leaves (such as
on bolted lettuces). I wouldn't say that it is exciting, even
then.

The stems can probably be used as for stem lettuce - remove the
outer layers, and eat the inside. It has crunch but little
flavour (and is slightly bitter), so is best dipped in some
strong-flavoured, salty sauce.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

The message
from (Nick Maclaren) contains these words:


Lettuce soup isn't bad when made with
decent stock and loose, relatively dark lettuce leaves (such as
on bolted lettuces). I wouldn't say that it is exciting, even
then.

It's delicious made with good lettuce, good stock, a good helping of
frozen peas and some finely chopped onion. Season, including nutmeg.
Cook for just a few minutes, add mint leaves just before the end, whizz
to smooth.

Janet.

On 12/7/05 16:13, in article , "Janet
Baraclough" wrote:

The message
from (Nick Maclaren) contains these words:


Lettuce soup isn't bad when made with
decent stock and loose, relatively dark lettuce leaves (such as
on bolted lettuces). I wouldn't say that it is exciting, even
then.

It's delicious made with good lettuce, good stock, a good helping of
frozen peas and some finely chopped onion. Season, including nutmeg.
Cook for just a few minutes, add mint leaves just before the end, whizz
to smooth.

Lettuce leaves 'wilted' in a little butter and then wrapped around peas,
finely sliced carrots etc. make a delicious and unusual veg option.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

The message k
from Sacha contains these words:

Lettuce leaves 'wilted' in a little butter and then wrapped around peas,
finely sliced carrots etc. make a delicious and unusual veg option.

Don't forget to wrap it in a pancake, seal the edges with batter, and
give it a bit of a frying in olive oil...

--
Rusty
Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

"Sacha" wrote in message
.uk...
On 12/7/05 16:13, in article , "Janet
Baraclough" wrote:

The message
from (Nick Maclaren) contains these words:


Lettuce soup isn't bad when made with
decent stock and loose, relatively dark lettuce leaves (such as
on bolted lettuces). I wouldn't say that it is exciting, even
then.

It's delicious made with good lettuce, good stock, a good helping of
frozen peas and some finely chopped onion. Season, including nutmeg.
Cook for just a few minutes, add mint leaves just before the end, whizz
to smooth.

Lettuce leaves 'wilted' in a little butter and then wrapped around peas,

The mind boggles - individually wrapped peas "~))
Jenny


finely sliced carrots etc. make a delicious and unusual veg option.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)