Lettuce is so easy to grow that people consider it … What You Need To grow cut-and-come-again salad greens you will need: good-quality potting soil, some seeds a container with drainage holes. Compost. Use the thinnings in salads. 7. Lettuce has a short term but plentiful yield and requires minimal care. Container growing lettuce is a common practice for small space gardeners such as apartment dwellers. Any of these types would be ideal for this milk jug lettuce garden project. Otherwise, the lettuce may become too hot when the sun magnifies through the plastic jug. A plastic bottle: Any size larger than 23 oz. Lettuce roots dislike being overly wet and this can cause the plants to fail. While growing and harvesting times will vary, you will still find that lettuce in containers grows quickly. Remove the tape and open the milk jug during the day when the temperature begins to rise in spring. We grow mixed lettuce, heads of lettuce and baby greens every spring and fall. I have found it easier to just scatter the seeds over the soil and cover with an additional inch of potting soil. It is a very fast growing leafy green, taking only a few weeks to mature. Don't worry about planting too many seeds, since you will thin the seedlings later. Jennifer Poindexter . Swiss Chard is the best bang for your buck. – How to Make a Rotisserie Chicken Container Greenhouse, Oh, hello! Move the jug into shade on hot days. It can allow an early start because the pots are brought indoors during light freezes and left outdoors during early spring days. Again, so false! Reader Phyllis Lobbins uses the containers that come with baby spinach leaves, spring mix or other lettuce mixes. 4. Here we will tackle living an authentic and hands on life through travel, DIY, food, and family. You can easily grow lettuce indoors in pots, growing trays or even miniature hydroponics systems. I love growing microgreens indoors! We will be talking about plant spacing, container size, harvesting and more. Growing lettuce in containers also allows you to control weeds and pests more easily than in a large garde… You want to place the jug in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. You can grow lettuce nearly anywhere, but to get a large harvest from growing in containers, we love growing it in our GreenStalk Vertical Planters. To estimate recommended space between multiple plants in the same pot, take the depth of the pot and divide it in half. – Keep the lettuce garden in a sunny space where it gets at least 6 hours of sun per day. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. For gardeners who want to get a jump-start on the growing season, a milk jug becomes a miniature greenhouse. For my milk jug lettuce gardens I don’t poke the soil and add seeds. 6-inch. Lightly cover with no more than 1/4 inch of soil. People often think that a lack of land means you can’t grow your own produce. Check out! It is one of the easiest ways to grow leafy greens right from the comfort of your kitchen. You want your container to be clean and free from debris. Leave them where they get plenty of light. – soil I do think that some varieties of lettuce/leafy greens grow better in containers than others. Take the serrated knife and CAREFULLY cut the milk jug in half. Jennifer is a full-time homesteader who started her journey in the foothills of North Carolina in 2010. The soil in raised beds and containers tends to warm up faster than traditional in-ground gardens. – Keep the soil moist. 1. If you snip and harvest often, you will find that your lettuce will grow and multiply quickly. Today we'll show you how to grow lettuce in pots or containers so you can enjoy lettuce no matter how big or small your space is! Good drainage is a must for lettuce as they hate having wet feet. She is an Oregon State University Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing. How to Make a Milk Jug Lettuce Garden – Rainbow Swiss Chard Swiss Chard. Select an uncovered spot so the seeds benefit from rainfall. Minimal investment in materials. Container gardens do ... Read More about Tips To Grow Vegetables In Containers Currently, she spends her days gardening, caring for her orchard and vineyard, raising chickens, ducks, goats, and bees. Water the potting mixture thoroughly until water runs through the drainage hole, and then set the jug aside to drain until the potting mixture is no longer dripping. Also, the sides must be fairly straight and smooth, especially near the "shoulder". These tips will help your lettuce seedlings grow strong and help you achieve a nice harvest. Growing lettuce in containers necessitates that you use a good quality soil. What kind of lettuce is best for growing in containers? Thin the lettuce when the plants are 2 to 3 inches tall. Feb 23, 2018 - Growing lettuce in containers is fun and easy and you can enjoy fresh, crispy, and organic lettuce leaves in your salads whole season. Growing lettuce using hydroponics and aquaponics is an efficient way of growing lettuce, but it’s not the only way. Reach me at thehomespunhydrangea@gmail.com Read More…, Copyright © 2020 The Homespun Hydrangea on the Foodie Pro Theme, « How to Get Rid of Ant Hills in Your Yard and Garden. These plants can be grown in smaller containers or pots, but the plant will suffer when it becomes root-bound. And lettuce is so easy to grow! Tips for Growing Lettuce: Discard the cap. Make sure that the bottom of the peat pellet is just barely touching the top of the nutrient solution. Wash a 1-gallon milk jug with warm water and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Lettuce is a cool season crop and leaves develop best in cool but not chill temperatures. I do think that some varieties of lettuce/leafy greens grow better in containers than others. 2. You can start picking young lettuce leaves just as soon as they form. The benchmark for all leafy greens, lettuce is the easiest vegetable to grow. Make sure to prevent the slugs and snails from eating them by using Quash Slug and Snail Pellets. There’s just nothing like harvesting your salad straight from your garden! In this new series we cover how to grow specific plants in containers. Feb 17, 2017 - Growing lettuce in containers is fun and easy and you can enjoy fresh, crispy, and organic lettuce leaves in your salads whole season. – Microgreens Growing lettuce in containers is simple. – spray bottle. The size of the containers should be 6 to 12 inches deep, as lettuce roots need enough space to grow. – Tom Thumb Butterhead Lettuce Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a cool weather vegetable that is usually planted by seed directly in the garden in early spring or late summer. To start transplants for growing lettuce in a container, sow the seeds in your prepared trays. Before you go, be sure to check out some of the other gardening content I have been working on. Rocket provides a stronger, peppery taste to salads. Mixing sand or other material to lighten the soil when growing lettuce in … You won’t need as much sun as other plants, so be sure to stick the container in a partial sunlit area. For me, a sunny kitchen window was perfect! For gardeners who want to get a jump-start on the growing season, a milk jug becomes a miniature greenhouse. That’s no reason to give up on growing food at home. If you live in Northern Canada where there is very little light in … Lettuce is one of the easiest veggies to grow in containers, in your garden or indoors and the results of your efforts are seen fairly quickly. You could also add some vermiculite or perlite for water retention. Use your finger to test the soil daily and make sure it is soft, damp, and loose. If you do decide to use some make sure it is food safe and made for edible plants. – Offer your lettuce garden an inch of water every few days or more/less as needed depending on your soil tests. What kind of lettuce is best for growing in containers? Fill the jug about 3/4 of the way full with nutrient rich potting soil. When temperatures are too high, growth is stunted and the lettuce becomes bitter. 3. sowing seeds or planting seedlings. For instance, when growing lettuce in containers, plant lettuce at least 3 inches apart. My name is Katie and I am The Homespun Hydrangea. Rinse thoroughly. This way you can be sure the soil is able to drain properly. Container choice.