In an attempt to pretend that winter hasn’t pitched up on my doorstep, bringing with it cold walks to work in the pitch dark, chilly toes and bare rain-blackened trees, I’ve been growing hardy lettuce on my balcony so that I can continue to enjoy summery salads, even on the most miserable days.
There are plenty of winter lettuces available, and one of my favourites is ‘Merveille des quatres saisons‘, which I have been growing in my Windowgrow on the balcony. Lettuces really, really hate drying out, even at this time of the year, and using the windowgrow means the soil stays lovely and moist, even when I haven’t had a chance to pop out onto the balcony during the week and check that everything is ok.
I sowed them in the last week of August, which gave them a chance to grow big and strong before the weather took a turn for the worse.
I’ve grown these lettuces without any protection at all, and now that the days really are getting very cold, they need harvesting or protecting. I’ll either construct a neat little tunnel out of fleece to keep them warm, or even grow them under individual bell cloches, which will mean I’ll have lettuces right through December and January.
Other lettuces which are perfect for winter growing are: Winter Density, Lobjoits, Valdor, Arctic King and Winter Gem.
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cecilia g
I really must do this next autumn, Though by january usually our weather has turned very cold. But i will do anything to extend my growing season just a little bit. i had forgotton about winter lettuce.. c