Most of our efforts in the vegetable garden during October are spent harvesting the late crops and putting them by to store for the winter but there is still one last opportunity to look ahead towards the Spring and being able to cut fresh, early lettuces directly from the garden.
Don’t be tempted to use up any lettuce seed left over from the summer. Choose a winter hardy variety that has been especially bred to grow under low light levels and the short days of the winter.
Sow the seed thinly in short rows around mid-October to early November in frames, under cloches or the greenhouse. Give plenty of ventilation during fine weather and always protect the developing plants against any hard winter frosts. Thin or transplant the lettuce seedlings to about 3ins/7.5 cms apart. This may seem a bit too close for comfort but every other plant can be transplanted into the open ground in the late winter – early Spring to spread the supply.
If the soil is well watered before sowing the seed there is a good chance that it will not require any additional irrigation this side of the New Year but always check on conditions after a few sunny days. It is important to maintain a healthy supply of fresh air under the protection to produce a buoyant growing environment. Avoid at all costs a wet, cold and sour atmosphere that will definitely encourage mildew and the damping off/ collapsing of the lettuce plants.
Little else is required other than nursing the young lettuces through the winter. Winter hardy lettuces are surprisingly strong and can survive the worst of winters but always be ready to give them a helping hand when it is necessary. You will be well rewarded for your endeavours come the new year.
Your plants should be ready for harvest in the Spring.
Varieties to choose
Suitable tried and tested cultivars are:
‘Artic King’, ‘Valdor’ (sold by Kings Seeds), ‘Winter Crop’ (sold by Kings Seeds), ‘Winter Density’ (sold by Kings Seeds), ‘Winter Imperial’ (sold by Kings Seeds), ‘Parella Red’, ‘Parella Green’, ‘Rouge d’Hiver’, ‘Wiske’ (sold by Kings Seeds) also try ‘Lattughino’, ‘Lollo Rossa’ (sold by Kings Seeds) or ‘Veneziana’. All of the lettuces listed are also suitable for the earliest sowings in the New Year. Try growing a few individually in pots if space isn’t available on the plot.
The main pests are slugs and snails use pellets under a slate or tile. Diseases are mildew and rotting off both of which are caused by excessive dampness, go easy on the watering.