This up and down weather can have our seasonal-senses going a little off course as we try to orient warm sunny days to our garden activities. Farmers and gardeners can keep their frost-cloths within reach because we are certainly still in the winter season with freezing temperatures a distinct possibility. Not every gardener is equip to grow food through the winter, although a greenhouse goes a long way to help with that. However, unpredictable weather doesn’t mean you can’t get your green thumb going now! Any home can have fresh leafy lettuces when you start with a container garden. The thin crunchy leaves of lettuce are wonderful when they’re fresh, but quickly loose their vitality if they’re left sitting for too long. You can take the guess work out of the bagged super market lettuces and meal kit transits by growing lettuces at home or shopping with local farmers! If you’re ready to get started growing your own, follow the steps below to ensure that you’ll always have fresh, crisp lettuce on hand.

 

Lettuces are fast growing greens that usually take only about 45 to 55 days from sowing to the first harvest. Since lettuces have a fairly shallow root system, they’re easy to grow in smaller sized containers such as terracotta pots or even window boxes. When harvesting lettuce, you can leave the root system in tact by using sharp, clean sheers to cut the leaves about 2 inches above soil level. By leaving the roots in the ground and gently harvesting, you can expect the lettuce to grow back for another 3 to 4 harvests.

Growing Container Lettuce from Seed:

  1. If you’re planning to start your lettuces in a container, you can sow the seeds every 1-2” across the top of the container and cover with 1/8” of soil. Keep the soil moist in the first few days as the seeds germinate and place the container in a warm sunny window. Seeds will germinate (start to sprout) after 5 – 10 days.
  2. When the lettuces are 2 inches tall, thin to about 8” inches apart. This will allow the strongest plants to grow to a larger size without competing for space.
  3. Once the lettuces are well established (about 4” tall), you can either allow the plant to get direct sunlight from a window, or move the container to a sunny patio. Continue to water daily and avoid letting the soil dry out completely.
  4. If the temperatures are going to dip below freezing, bring the container inside overnight to protect the lettuces from frost. If temperatures reach above 75 degrees, move the lettuces out of direct sunlight to protect the leaves from burning or wilting.

 

If your lettuces do experience some damage from either frost or sunburns (either is possible in a Texas winter) don’t fret too much! After either scenario, water deeply and give your lettuce about a week to recover. Often, an overnight cold snap won’t completely kill a plant if the roots didn’t freeze. Sunburned leaves are usually just cosmetic if the plant is otherwise healthy. After a good rest, you can safely clip off the damaged leaves and have fresh crisp lettuces again with 2 – 3 weeks.

All of this information is handy if you’re getting into gardening, but is also helpful if you’re learning to eat locally and seasonally. The produce available at the Dallas Farmers Market is always grown in Texas or 400 miles of Dallas, and the selection reflects the weather experienced by our local farmers. A cold snap can be a big setback for winter greens, but luckily they do grow quickly and the crops usually recover within 2 – 3 weeks. Thank you for supporting our local farmers no matter the season. Winter farmers market shoppers are no fair weather fans and our local vendors couldn’t appreciate you more! Local agriculture matters and your support makes all the difference.