Hi,
I have planted quite a few lettuces recently, they must be about a month old and I was wondering when I should start covering them up and what to cover them with? I am in the South East so probably hang onto the warmer weather a bit longer than others.
I would say cloches which can be jut a few loose panes of glass resting on a horizontal timber resting on bricks.
What you must have is good ventilation or else you will lose them to botrytis if they get to 'sweaty / humid'
So leave your cloches open ended unless it is going to be frosty. To protect in this case fit a piece of glass at either end of the cloche then remove them when the frosty period has passed.
I mulched around mine last weekend with compost out of my darlek. The blackbirds have been having food fights in there all week - mulch all over the place, including IN the lettuces. And there was me, watering ever so carefully so the lettuce leaves would be nice and clean! ::)