lettuce

Divide the seed into several amounts. (Look in stores now and you can buy extra packets for about half or more off).

Start in mid August and make a short row. Do this about every 7-10 days up till late Sept (depending on how many seeds).

Depending on the weather and moisture you should have some decent lettuce by mid Sept-Oct and depending on the weather (we never know around here anymore) you could keep cutting it and harvesting until it gets really cold (sometimes thats December for me).

A better way to start it is indoors in late July/ early Aug (where it is cool) sowing a few seeds per cell. Keep it in as high light conditions as possible (a south window or under shop lamps). Then transplant it outdoors once our nights get cooler and water the heck out of it if it doesnt rain. That will get an early jump on harvesting it. Shadecloth might help if day time temps are still hot (80-90's).

Lettuce gets bitter with heat and also bolts to seed sooner.

I have a nice seed starting setup in the basement and it is really cool down there. I use Root Trainer cellpacks. Do you think I could grow salad greens indoors over the summer?

You can definitely grow salad greens indoors this summer. Be sure to provide plenty of natural or artificial light, at least 8-10 hours a day. Avoid warm areas of the house. The cooler, the better.

Chelsey Wasem
Horticulture Agent