I contemplated titling this post "Hope Springs Eternal." There are varieties of lettuces that are meant to grow in winter, but (let's be optimistic here) "to date" I have been unable to grow them at Struan Farm. It's possible that I planted the seeds too late in the season, and should have gotten them started growing before it started to get too cold.
We would really like to be able to grow greens for salads of some sort throughout the year. Yes, I've got kale and silver beet/swiss chard already started and growing away, along with carrots and beets, and have just planted my peas and broad bean seeds. But I hate having to buy those washed bags of lettuce or mesclun that go off and get slimy after a few days during winter, would prefer to have my own, fresh in the backyard.
And so this year I am doing an experiment. Planting 2-3 winter varieties outside in the veggie gardens now, and planting two of the same varieties in wooden planters John has just constructed for the glasshouse. I've purchased fantastic Franchi seeds from Italian Seeds Pronto, including "Lattuga Romana Bionda Degli Ortolani" and "Misticanza di Lattughe Autumnno-Inverno."
While I am hoping that both locations flourish and provide us with heaps of winter greens, my money is on the glasshouse. Stay tuned!
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