Lovely Lettuce
Lettuce comes in many varieties, colours, shapes and sizes and is the basic must-have vegetable for any salad. They can be grown outdoors from early April onwards, once the ground has had time to warm up for the spring. Lettuce is very versatile and does not take up too much space, so it could be planted around your other vegetables.
Grow lettuce
Grow lettuce seedlings by planting them in rows so that there is between 20cm and 30cm (8in to 12in) between each plant. There are many different types of lettuce with different tastes so you can try a whole range and plant in half or whole rows. If you are planting more than one row, space them about 45cm (18in) apart.
Nutrition
Lettuce is a five a day vegetable and contains vitamins and minerals. It should be eaten freshly picked and nicely crisp, as wilting leaves begin to lose their nutritional value. Lettuce seedlings are delicate and need protection from pests like slugs, rabbits and caterpillars. Plants should be kept weed-free and be careful when picking them so you do not damage their leaves.
Origins
The Mediterranean is where lettuce was first grown and eaten by the first people that colonised the area. Lettuce was originally eaten as a dessert by the Romans, but then a dressing was added and it was used to stimulate the appetite. Did you know that the lettuce is related to the thistle family? Lettuce is usually grown from seed each spring.
