Making lettuce tender

[antipodes]

OK honest, last post for the day. I have had some success with lettuce by late sowing, usually I cannot grow the d**n things!
They are scarole type and there are also some winter frisées.
However even though they are growing well, I ate a young one and I found the leaves to be quite tough and not very sweet. Is there something I should be doing to make the leaves more tender? Should I fleece or partly cover them? I can't believe it is lack of water as it hasn't stopped drizzling here.

[antipodes]

[saddad]

You could try "blanching" one for two or three days to see if that helps...  :-\

[chriscross1966]

Gets coat.......

[star]

 ;D ;D ;D

I guess its the cold nights, either do as Saddad says or cloches overnight.....

[willsy]

Why not try them steamed, i do and i like them.My italian friend told me about using them this way as I had loads to use. very nice...

[antipodes]

Hmmmm I was more looking forward to some cooler weather salad!
Would fleecing them being a good idea?
Does anyone know how to blanch these types of lettuce?

[elhuerto]

My allotment neighbours tie some string round their lettuces to bring all the leaves up so they say they get a more protected / tender heart for their lettuces - keep meaning to try it to see if it makes a difference but haven't got round to it - I guess it sounds plausible though.

[1066]

From what I know (read very limited!) you can either tie them up and leave them for a few days to a week to lighten/tenerise them, or place a plant pot over them for the same time

Mine aren't anywahere near that stage yet tho! I've tried the string thing, and it sort of works  :)

edited to add - I have a lovely recipe for borlotti and endive soup if all else fails  ;D

[antipodes]

edited to add - I have a lovely recipe for borlotti and endive soup if all else fails  ;D

i'll take it!  ;D
Tying them up hmmm think I see what you mean. Maybe that will help, I will try it on a few and see what happens. I am also growing lamb's lettuce for the first time, hopefully that  will be more tender!

[tim]

You can't tie up Batavia lettuces like you can a Cos.

I was going to say that ours are tender - crisp & white - but, in fact they are not.

But still very acceptable.

[antipodes]

Hi tim, no I am not growing batavias, I left it too late and anyway lettuce in the summer here is out, it gets too hot and they just bolt. Mine are more like your second picture, except they are much greener. So they need to be whiter. I guess I will have to try the string trick! They are quite slim and tall so think it is probably do-able.

[Obelixx]

Scarole is a staple leaf here in Belgium and is nearly always sold with the heart blanched.  It's often used for cooking rather than as a straight salad leaf.  If your frisée is endive frisée then that also is sold blanched - like dandelions in spring - as otherwise it is too bitter and tough.  We have taken to neither flavour though we like Belgian endive/chicons and radicchio in mixed salads and the individual chicon leaves make great nibbles when filled with little brown shrimps in mayonnaise with a hint of grainy Meaux mustard.

I suggest more water for speedier growth to make them tender and juicy then blanching, either by tying up or under pots like rhubarb.

[antipodes]

Thx Obelix, here is France they eat a lot of different winter salads, I have gotten used to the taste but I do think they are processed in some way as when you buy them the hearts are yellow/white. Of course with a strong vinaigrette sauce they wilt a little and are easier to eat! I love them with some cheese, especially blue cheese, beetroot cubes, fried bacon, croutons, which all make it much more of a hearty meal than a summer salad!!SO I hope that I succeed with them!

[tim]

I said Batavia because  
Splendidseeds.com Botanical Interests Escarole Broadleaf Batavian Heirloom Seeds 250 Seeds : As you can tell from the Latin name it is related to chicory and endive.
Add to Shopping List

[1066]

edited to add - I have a lovely recipe for borlotti and endive soup if all else fails  ;D

i'll take it!  ;D

I'll post it in the recipes section  ;D