Lettuce and Greens Do Well Most of the Year

Question: I would like to grow a variety of leaf lettuces and salad greens. Can I plant them this time of year? What conditions do they prefer?

A.K., Rancho Santa Margarita

Answer: In our mild Southern California weather, we have the luxury of growing lettuce and other greens via seed or transplants much of the year, except during hot weather.

Winter is an excellent time to plant greens, which tend to grow well when the temperatures are in the 50- to 70-degree range.

Plant greens at two-week intervals, and you will have a plentiful, continuous supply throughout the winter and spring.

There are a variety of greens to choose from. Good loose-leaf lettuce types for our area include oakleaf, salad bowl, green ice, red sails and ruby. There are also a variety of greens found in mesclun salad mixes. These mixes tend to include arugula, which should be used when young, at 2 to 3 inches tall.

Mustard greens are delicious and pungent and should be used at only 1/2-inch tall or they become too bitter. Other mesclun additions include the fast grower mizuna and mibuna, which adds a piquant taste to salads.

Cress can also be grown. It has a spicy, tingly flavor.

Keep the following growing tips in mind:

Greens grow well in the ground and containers. Always keep the soil evenly moist.

Letting the soil dry out will lead to bitter greens. Lettuce needs about an inch of water per week. Do not overhead water in the evening; give the foliage time to dry off during the day.

Asian greens such as mizuna and mibuna grow rapidly, so they need plenty of water. Plant greens in full sun in winter. Space transplants or thin seedlings 4 to 6 inches apart.

Leaf crops need a lot of nitrogen. Amend your soil with compost and a well-balanced fertilizer before planting, and water with a diluted mixture of liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion every two weeks after growth starts.

Greens are usually ready to harvest in four to six weeks. Entire plants can be cut, leaving the center to regrow, or outer leaves may be picked off as needed. After cutting, water and lightly fertilize the cut plants to stimulate new growth.

Have a problem in your yard? University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners are here to help. These trained and certified horticultural volunteers are dedicated to extending research-based, scientifically accurate information to the public about home horticulture and pest management. They are involved with a variety of outreach programs, including the UCCE Master Garden hotline, which provides answers to specific questions. You can reach the hotline at (714) 708-1646 or send e-mail to ucmastergarde ners@yahoo.com. Calls and e-mail are picked up daily and are generally returned within two to three days.