Do not sow when soil temperature is 80 or above. Thin seedlings 8 to 12 inches apart, depending on the type of lettuce. Looseleaf, butterhead and Romaine lettuces are best for our area. Use the thinnings in your first salad. Begin harvesting when plants are small.
Some gardeners apply weekly foliar feeds.
Keep lettuce watered, as dry conditions encourage bitter flavor. You'll learn which plants to add to your garden to feed butterfly larva, or caterpillars, as well as which to plant to provide nectar. Cockrell director Nancy Greig or a Cockrell staff member will be available for presentations and to answer your questions at the mart at 2 p.m. Thursday, noon and 2 p.m. Sept. 26 and noon Sept. 27. One butterfly attraction at the Cockrell and in some local gardens this year is Porter weed. Greig says this low-maintenance plant is a member of the verbena family.