LETTUCE Coastal Star ExLg 6 pk
$8.00
A longtime favorite.
The large, heavy heads are dark green. Heat tolerant. Full heads or romaine hearts. Good, sweet flavor.
Coastal Star Romaine Lettuce is an open-pollinated romaine variety that produces full-sized heads of crisp, delicious lettuce. It produces dark green leaves and tall heads at maturity. Coastal Star may be harvested as leaf lettuce when plants are young, but can also be cut once for head production. It is relatively heat-tolerant and will perform well in late spring or early fall. This lettuce variety is great for planting in rows for a traditional, in-ground garden, but it also works well for container or raised bed gardening. Romaine lettuce performs well when planted densely, about 8-12 apart. This will help to shade the surrounding soil and reduce weed growth. It will also allow you to grow a significant amount of food in a small space.”
$8.00
$8.00
Lettuce, Endive & Radicchio Growing Tips
Lettuce, endive and radicchio are excellent choices for fresh leafy greens for spring or fall salads. There are many types of lettuce including loose-leaf lettuces which do not form heads and head-forming lettuces including bibb, romaine, iceberg and butterhead. Chicories, including endive and radicchio, are closely related to lettuce and can be used in the kitchen in a similar way. It’s a real treat to be able to harvest these greens fresh from your garden.
Planting
- Lettuce, endive and radicchio grow best in a well drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. Prior to planting, prepare the soil by incorporating a good quality compost and a balanced fertilizer.
- Plant spacing depends on the type of plant and at what stage you plan to harvest:
- Leaf-Lettuce: Baby-leaf: 5” apart; Full-size: 10 to 12” apart
- Head Lettuce: 10 to 12” apart
- Endive (frilly): Baby-leaf: 5” apart; Full-size: 10-12” apart
- Radicchio: 10 – 12” apart
Watering
- These plants have shallow root systems and require regular watering to receive about 1” of water per week. If a long dry period is followed by sudden rain or irrigation, the tips of leaves can turn brown – causing what is called “tip burn.” Consistent moisture is best.
- Drip irrigation is an effective and efficient way to irrigate vegetable crops because the water is delivered directly to the soil where it will be taken up by the roots. Drip irrigation also keeps water off of the foliage which will reduce the risk of disease development.
Maintenance
Keep the planting well weeded. Using mulch, such as cocoa mulch, straw, untreated dry grass clippings or shredded leaves will suppress weed growth and help retain soil moisture.
Harvesting
- Single leaves may be harvested when they are a usable size. Multiple harvests are possible if you leave smaller leaves still on the plant.
- The whole plant can be harvested by cutting it off at the base just above the soil.
