Topic: Lettuce..winter crop!

[MagpieDi]

Found these minis this morning in a trough !!
Very unusual...... outdoors, mid Jan, almost 1000 ft up in Pennines ???
Anyone else got a crop ?




Radicchio and Lollo Rossa ?

[Derekthefox]

I have 15 parella red plants in my greenhouse, but that is all!

[tim]

- mini what? - radicchio?

- and what's parellas? = Tim

[cleo]

Yes indeed Magpie,have some here: Rosa di Verona,tight red heads and oh so hardy-well worth growing

Stephan.

[budgiebreeder]

Didn't you get that 3" of thick frost that we had Di?Everything was solid this morning i couldn't unlock the Aviary.Time you got your share i say.

[Derekthefox]

Parella Red is a type of winter lettuce - presumably there is Parella Green as well - available from Kings. I prefer red lettuces as the slugs do not :)

[MagpieDi]

Not so unusual then!!! Will make a note of the other hardy types mentioned ..thanks all !

Tim...one is radicchio ...not sure about t'other!

BB ...when you get 3" frost...we get equivalent in snow!!
... had flurries all week....  8) !

[tim]

OK - looking a bit limp after another severe frost, but they'll be fine at lunchtime!

Fristina (cut & come again) -  did yours survive, Ina?? = Tim    (Pity about the focus - but it's too darned cold to do another one!!)

XXX Silly me - cleaning up the album photos - won't want that one again 'cos it's on the board - oh,well!!

[ina]

Yes Tim, the fristina's did survive and the rabbits thank you very much for sending me the seeds hahaha.
I saved some seeds for spring but this time the lettuce will be for MY table.
Yours look good. -ina

[Dibber_Debs]

Dear Magpie Di,

I've finally registered, prompted by your photo.  It struck a chord with me because I had the veg on the right for lunch today, the first of the season.  Both appear to be types of chicory, the one on the left obviously a red one, but I'm not sure which.  The one on the right, whose relative is safely in my stomach, is, I believe, 'Radicchio Variegata di Castelfranco'.  I blanched mine for a couple of weeks and used it in a salad.  It's quite firm in texture and might be better shredded than whole.  

[MagpieDi]

Hi Debs!

Welcome to the Lottie Loons!!!

I sprinkled a few of each seed from an ' Italian Mixture '..........into a tub late summer and harvested rocket, basil and a red lettuce ...then just left the rest to overwinter, so not sure what they are exactly 'cos lost packet!!  ::)
But thanks for the info...will let you know when they've put on a bit more growth......actually, think I better cover them with fleece !  

Feel free to send a private message if you have any probs finding your way round the boards, posting pics etc !
bfn
Di

[Dibber_Debs]

Hi Magpie Di,

What a friendly lot you seem to be.

Thanks for the welcome.  No doubt it will take a while to fathom the finer points of the site - I keep getting distracted by the veg!

:)

[MagpieDi]

OK folks!!...So I don't know what the h*ll I'm growing!!  ::) HaHaHa!!

But, having found the seed packet.......all is revealed!

Over summer I harvested 5 different varieties of baby salad leaves, then just left the plants in the tub!!

NOW....I've got 2 types of chicory growing !!!   ::)  ;D Catalogna, and Radicchio Palla Rossa!! Yummy!!

Ha!!... .must read writing under pic in future!!...assumed they were all lettuce!!  :-[  ::)

[budgiebreeder]

We're all guilty of not reading the packets and instructions Di.What ever they look lovely and crisp.Think its a must do for  this Summer.

[Dibber_Debs]

Just when you thought you'd solved the mystery, Magpie Di, here I come to confuse things again.  I've looked at a seed packet or two and checked them against a seed catalogue - the Organic Gardening one.  'Catalogna' has tall, skinny leaves.  I've grown both and they're quite different.  Did the seed packet designer have a brainstorm, I wonder.   I'm holding out for radicchio 'Variegata di Castelfranco' as the freckly one on the right.  Looking at one of my lettuce seed packets, though ('Freckles'), I can see why you might have thought first of lettuce.  V di C seems to be as tough as old boots - in terms of the weather, that is.  :)

[MagpieDi]

Thanks Debs.......dunno where they came from then !! ???  ::)

Never grown chicory before......so looking forward to harvesting !!

The young leaves of the Italian salad mixture ( Mr Fothergill's ) were delish over the summer......just drizzled honey and mustard dressing over !! Easy peasy!!  :)

[Dibber_Debs]

You're making me hungry - not that I normally have salad for breakfast.

I hope you enjoy the red-and-speckly ones as much as I have.  

Will you be growing more exotic Yorkshire salads this year?  My husband would have me believe that salads are dressed with Henderson's Relish in Yorkshire.  And that salads are made principally from pies. :D