Start of 2015 Seedling Planting!

I have never had a leaf lettuce that isn't bitter. Wonder if it's all like that.

Most of my lettuce leafs are in between bitter and regular.

I have a bet with my dad that I could grow a better garden than him. My corn, squash, and strawberries have sprouted in the green house, and my dad has not even started seeds! I think I know who is going to win...

Not knowing how and when things are grown in zone 9, I wouldn't know early from late. I do know it is so tempting to start things here in zone 6. But I am going to wait a while. Well, maybe I will plant a few peppers soon. It does take longer for them, right? Oh, and some cole crops. They can be put out early.

Leaf lettuce is sweet if picked while young and tender, but a person has to stay on top of it as it quickly gets old, tough and can be bitter right before it bolts.

I was pretty pleased with how I did seedlings last year and I'll be repeating that this year. The plants I started as seedlings were stronger and produced better than those bought at the nursery as plants, so I'm going to try to do more seedlings here this year so we won't have to fill in much with nursery stock.

I just used a seedling tray for some of them and a big porcelain restaurant tray for the others, mixed leaf mold, some of the composted litter from my coop, and some quality potting soil for my seedling mix and placed these trays in the window light with heating pads under them. Kept them turned so they would grow evenly.

This year I'll be doing the same except, once they are up tall enough, I'll be covering the soil with some composted leaf matter to retain the moisture.

Well, these are baby lettuce...no where near bolting, not even fully grown. =/
Ah well. That was the only lettuce leaf that I ate the whole leaf in my life!
Lol, but that's cheating, since it was a tiny, 1/2" leaf....

Maybe the type you planted or the pH or nutrient levels in your soil? Usually common leaf lettuce is quite nice, with a crisp, sweet flavor.

We have grown Black Seeded Simpson for leaf lettuce. I find it has a mildly bitter taste, too. That is why my preferred way to eat it is for Wilted Lettuce! HA...there goes all the healthy benefits!

Tom thumb mini lettuce.
Used a veggie 6mo feed potting mix.