never heart up for me, last 2 years. Anyone else have this problem. Little gems do it sometimes, but I still eat them. Never fancied the romaines when they form rosettes
No, they don't heart up for me either. The more common name for romaine is 'cos' lettuce and the recommendation in gardening books is to tie up the cos lettuces once they are fully grown, to get some sort of 'heart'.
Little gem is the odd one out really, because it is such a small crinkled 'cos' lettuce, quite different from the tall, upright, looseleaf cos lettuces, such as Lobjoits Cos for example.
I don't think I could tie them up without damaging them. I only started growing them for variety. Romaine types from the supermarkets are too big, and seem to rot on the inside easily, so I wouldn't buy them
I only tend to grow the over winter ones and the baby gems.. Winter Density has worked well for a few years but all died off last year..
I try to keep the hearted lettuce in a bit of shade which may or may not help!
I think the lack of hearting may be down to the weather as I've grown "Claremont" cos for several years and they have been wonderful but this year they haven't hearted up,although some later sowings are looking better.
I read somewhere that you shouldn't plant lettuces too deep or they won't heart. :(
For a change I have been very sucessful with these EXCEPT they always turn red!!
I cannot grow green ones. On the packet they are green and the young seedlings are very green but blow me, except for maybe the odd one or two, they are red!!!
Still no complaints - some are completely HUGE now so probably past their best, I have just got some young seedlings ready to put in the tunnel for winter as - last year they survived well in there!
Old Bird
::)
Had great success last year with Romana Bionda degli Ortolani from seeds of Italy - they describe it as the classic romaine lettuce. It was easy to grow and gave me lovely crisp lettuces over a reasonably long period - quite slow to bolt. Not good this year but I put that down to the weather, I've just had a generally bad lettuce year :(
Best lettuce for flavour and texture, in my opinion. I plant them about 20cm apart and they will naturally grow upwards. Then about 2 weeks before harvest, tie them with some raffia. Wash whole and keep in the fridge.
Take off the outer leaves as you need them, and it should last a week or more in the dew pan
Cos are our favourite lettuce. I had no idea they were difficult, I feel quite pleased with myself now as mine almost always heart without bolting. Occasionally get tipburn if very hot and dry.
I find Valmaine very reliable; also Lobjoits, Winter Density and Chartwell.
I always start in plugs, plant very close together, harvest in-between plants as leaves until they are about a foot apart and then get large hearts. This gives me lettuce over a long season from one sowing.
Maybe it is having veg plot in garden so I can water? Or the close planting? My soil is quite good??
Perhaps now I know it is supposed to be difficult I will fail to get hearts in future ;)