Did you know..... There are four main types of lettuce available to grow from seed, three of which form hearts at the centre and the fourth which are known as loose leaf lettuce.
Step by step guide to growing your own lettuce
Prepare your site
Lettuce are not to bothered about the soil in which they are grown, as long as it retains moisture, especially through hot, dry periods. They don't particulaly like hot weather, and seem to grow better in partial shade.
When to plant lettuce
Lettuce seeds can be planted straight into the ground as soon as the soil has warmed up a little in spring.
How to plant lettuce
It is best to sow lettuce straight into the ground, but don't plant too many seeds at once, or they will be all ready to eat at the same time. Sow a handful of lettuce seeds every few weeks to maintain a constant crop.
Sow seeds in a shallow drill at a depth of about half an inch, cover with soil and water them in. When seedlings appear, gradually thin them out, leaving the strongest seedlings in situ to develop further.
If you have planted lettuce seeds in pots, wait until they have 4 or 5 sets of leaves before planting out in the garden.
Routine care of lettuce
Lettuce need to be kept clear of weeds and should be well watered, especially in the few weeks prior to picking, this ensures that the leaves are nice and crisp, and they don't wilt too quickly. Lettuce plants stress out during hot weather, especially if they haven't got any water to drink, and tend to go to seed and bolt. This is a purley self preservation on behalf of the lettuce, as it tries to produce seeds in order to proporgate itself. Whatever you do, don't eat lettuce leaves that have bolted and gone to seed, as these are way too bitter to eat.
When to harvest lettuce
Lettuce which form hearts take longer to grow than loose leaf lettuces, due to the fact they need time to develop the crunchy heart in the middle, whereas loose leaf lettuce can be harvested as soon as the leaves are big enough to eat. Loose leaf lettuce can be picked as a whole, or the leaves can be cut from the plant, and the roots are left to grow a succession of new leaves.
Storing lettuce for later use
Lettuce do not store well for long periods, and are best eaten straight from the garden.
Recommended varieties of lettuce
Loose Leaf Lettuce: Lollo Rosso, Catalogna and Green or Red Salad Bowl
Butterhead Lettuce: Clarion, Fortune or Tom Thumb
Cos Lettuce: Corsair, Little Gem and Little Leprechaun
Crisphead Lettuce: Iceberg, Lakeland and Windemere
Serving suggestion for lettuce.....
Lettuce is best served fresh from the garden and can be used as a garnish or can be eaten in adundance on a green salad.
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Growing Lettuce 
