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Calling all lettuce experts……
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Posted by dancinglemons 7+ (My Page) on Sat, Nov 7, 09 at 2:24
| I am not new to gardening but growing lettuce is a relatively new experience for me. I have some Jericho Romaine lettuce growing now and we love it. Unfortunately I did not plant enough for us because I was not sure we would like it. I am in zone 7+ (Central Virginia) and we usually have pretty mild winters –but- we do get temps down in the 20’s and 30’s but usually only for a few hours at night – not all day. If I plant some romaine in jiffy cubes and set them out in mid/late November – will it grow or will it just sit there. I can grow cabbage which stays outside all winter with no problem and also kale and collards. Anyone have luck growing romaine lettuce over winter??
Thanks,
DL
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Calling all lettuce experts……
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| If you grow them in a cold frame and use one of the many cultivars developed in Europe for growing through the very short days of their winter, then they will keep growing all winter. Lettuce in one of those plants that can tolerate a lot lower temperatures under cover than when growing out in the open. Winter lettuce cultivars will often have "winter", "d'hiver" or "inverno" as part of their names, as in "Winter Density", "Rouge d'Hiver" or "Verde d'Inverno". Territorial sells a good selection of cultivars. |
RE: Calling all lettuce experts……
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| Dancinglemons, my climate is obviously more severe than yours, but I have no trouble overwintering small plants of Romaine and some leaf type lettuces, which then make nice plants in the spring. Here of course, they don't grow at all from late October until April brings some warmth, they just sit exactly as they were. I don't know if it would grow for you or not -- that might vary from year to year based on the weather, but it would survive and grow again in the spring, which I assume probably comes at least a month earlier for you than for me (for a benchmark, crocus usually blooms here in early April, daffodils in late April, and lilacs a nd apple blossoms in mid-May, although it can vary by about two weeks either way based upon weather conditions). |
RE: Calling all lettuce experts��
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Yes! The name "Cool CroP" is self explanatoy; They grow in "cool" weather better than "HOT" weather.
I would consider a range of 42F(n) to 76F(D) ideal for "cool crops". So then "cool" is not equivalent to "Cold". cool crops can survive in "cold" weather but they will not grow measureably. Probably there are few exceptions that may manage to grow just a bit, but not a whole lot. On the other hand, if your winter turns out to be unusually warm, (in zones 6,7,8) your COOL crops may do better than expected. Things can happen. Last year I tapped maple trees(here in ATLANTA GA Area) and made about one quart of maple syrup. You would think that maple syrups can only be made up North/Northeast USA and Canada. So you never know; your cabbages may grow in Wisconsine, this winter. |
RE: Calling all lettuce experts……
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| Thanks everyone! I will look at my Territorial catalog and see what I can learn. I also have Johnny's catalog which is quite intense in the information department. I will also plant some of the Romaine that I have and put it "under cover" as they say across the pond. If I have some moderate success I will post pictures. Thanks again everyone!!!!!!! DL |
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