There are so many kinds of wonderful lettuces that add various textures and flavors to a salad. I enjoy adding colored lettuce, such as the red oak leaf, and a spicy one, like arugula (my favorite!). Growing a mixed “mesclun” salad, a European blend in which seed packets are easily found with this blend of varieties, will offer enough variety to make a beautiful salad bowl.
SEED SOURCES Good seed can be acquired in various ways. Seed order catalogs are a dependable way to find both common and harder to find seed. Most seed companies will send a free catalog if one is requested. Here are a few common seed companies that I recommend. Most of them provide online catalogs and ordering as well as traditional call or mailordering. R.H. SHUMWAY 1-800-342-9461 www.rhshumway.com MORGAN COUNTY SEEDS 1-573-378-2655 TERRITORIAL SEED COMPANY 1-800-657-3131 www.territorialseed.com BAKER CREEK HEIRLOOM SEEDS 1-417-924-8917 www.rareseeds.com PINETREE GARDEN SEEDS 1-207-926-3400 www.superseeds.com Most grocery and discount stores carry good selections of seeds, as well as plants. Local feed stores sometimes provide bulk seed and plants, as well as seed potatoes, onion sets and onion plants that work very well for spring planting. Wherever your seed is purchased, pay attention to seed packet weights or seed counts for comparison and make sure to get enough of a certain seed for the area to be planted.
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Spinach is a nice addition to any salad
Spinach’s dark green leaves and rich flavor makes for a great fresh salad. It also works great cooked, in soups, sauteed with other veggies, made into dip or eaten alone as a nutritious side. Spinach grows very similarly to lettuce and can be started in early spring as well. An old variety that has good flavor and grows well in our area is Bloomsdale Long Standing. Any variety that states “slow-bolting” is good to look for. With our ever fluctuating ozarks weather, a couple of hot spring days can send some spinach and lettuce varieties shooting up their flowers. this is called “bolting” and brings on seeding and the end of this short-lived plant cycle. The earlier in spring that these plants can be started, the longer they will be enjoyed.
Where and when can lettuce and spinach be planted?
As soon as the ground can be worked up, these seeds can be planted. A corner of a garden, a barren flower patch or even a pot full of dirt can be utilized for an early supply of lettuce. Loosen the soil using a garden rake or hand trowel, so that the dirt is fine. Sprinkle
MARCH 2013