Growing Gardens

with Julia Hancock

Lesser-known lettuces

Lettuces must be one of the most satisfying vegetables to cultivate in the garden. They are relatively fast, they look beautiful, and they taste superb in a mixed salad.

Although there are lettuce types for most seasons, in our climate they really do best at those months without extremes of heat and humidity. Now is the perfect time to sow a few seeds or plant out some seedlings.

Lettuces fall into three basic categories – cos, crisp head and loose leaf types. All require the same growing conditions: sun in winter or semi-shade as the weather warms up; plenty of food and water to keep them growing fast and sweetly; and protection from wind, birds, slugs and snails.

Cos lettuces are characterised by long leaves with smooth edges. They don't form a head but instead grow upright from their basal rosette. Unusual varieties of cos include 'Freckles' where the leaves are splattered with red (a favourite with children) and 'Red Cos' with bronze leaves.

Crisp head lettuces are the ones, which are most often sold in supermarkets as their firm heads and large bulk make them easy to transport and give them a long shelf-life. 'Iceberg' is the most famous of this type of lettuce, with delicious crisp vivid green leaves, but the less-lauded 'Yatesdale' is probably a better choice for the cooler months in northern NSW.

Loose leaf lettuces include all the 'designer' types that look so attractive on a plate. They have dissected leaves, ones with frilly edges and those which are tinged brown or purple. 'Lollo Biondo' and 'Lollo Rosso' are very smart siblings, the former with pale green ruffled leaves, and the latter with deep pinkish outer foliage. 'Purple Oakleaf' and 'Red Coral' are also worth growing for their colour.

These traditional varieties are available from suppliers of heritage and non-hybrid seeds.

Lismore Garden Club News

The Club is looking for potential new members. Qualifications are a love of gardening & fellow gardeners. The Club meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Lismore Workers Club. Next meeting is Thursday, Aug 7 at 1.30am. For information, phone Marry on 6621 5293. Now is the time to plant most fruit trees & vines such as grape, passionfruit & kiwifruit in frost free areas. Be sure to dig a hole much bigger than the pot or bag that the tree/vine is in. Place a handful of blood & bone enriched with a teaspoon of sulphate of potash in the bottom of the hole, place 10cm quality potting mix over the fertiliser, then plant & water in with "Seasol", mulch with lucerne hay or other organic mulch. Remove any fruit at time of planting.

What to Plant now: Flower Bulbs – Agapanthus, Pineapple Lilly, Gladiolus, Hippeastrum, Bearded Iris, Valotta, Calla Lily, Canna.

Flowers – Roses, Alyssum, Candy Tuft, Marigold, Petunia, Phlox.

Vegies – Asian Greens, Carrot, Cabbage, Lettuce, Peas, Silverbeet, Herbs (not Basil), Tomato (frost free areas).

Gardening Tip: Save the cardboard cores out of toilet rolls & kitchen paper. Cut into 5cm long pieces. Place side by side into an ice cream container with drain holes. Fill to top of cores with potting mix. Plant cucurbit seeds such as Pumpkin, Cucumber, Melons etc. Water & Place into plastic bag & plant out in spring.

Happy Gardening
Ron Burns