Lettuce 'Great Lakes' (Lettuce)

Seeds or transplants can be sown as soon as soil is workable. Bed should be prepped the previous fall by working in compost or organic matter and raking to leave soil smooth and fine. Seeds need light to germinate and so are sown just barely below soil surface an inch (2.5 cm) apart and 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) apart. Loose-leaf Lettuces also do well when broadcast seeded into a small patch for cut-and-come-again harvesting. For an earlier start, sow seeds in 1 inch (2.5 cm) cells 3 to 4 weeks before you want to transplant out. Harden off plants by reducing water and temperature for 3 days prior to planting and they will survive 20F (-8C). Mature plants do not tolerate the low temperatures that seedlings do so time your last fall crop to mature around the time of your first frost. Thin crisphead types to 12 inch (30 cm) and leafy types to 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) when plantlets have 2 to 3 true leaves or after planting out transplants. Make use of multiple plantings and varieties with different maturity dates to ensure a continuous supply. To prevent bolting pick bolt resistant varieties particularly later in the season when nights are warmer and keep shaded in warm weather. Drought will also trigger bolting. Mulching will help shallow rooted plants retain moisture and prevent weeds.