Winter Butterhead Lettuce Trial
It would be nice to do proper trials (large plant numbers, randomised blocks, clipboards and the like) but I think plenty can be gleaned from little observational trials. It is a great exercise for any gardener to grow a few varieties of the same crop side by side and see how they differ. The differences can be trivial or vast and you might find that you were growing an unproductive variety or one not suited to your soil.
Here is one I just planted of winter lettuce butterhead varieties. I sourced various varieties that were described as ‘winter’ or ‘early’ – typically with a recommended sowing in September for expected harvest in April. These were sown at the end of September and transplanted into a tunnel on Halloween, that’s Samhain to you heathens. I also threw in a summer variety to see how differently it behaves.
I gave them plenty space of to observe them better. And with the expectation that some will be grown on for seed next year.
In Ireland, with our mild winters it is possible to grow most lettuce varieties in a tunnel this way. I would stick with looser leaved varieties though as they seem less fussy and are faster growing. Plants will grow very slowly over the winter in the low light levels but will start to produce as early as February the following year and should provide leaves for a few months after that if only the outer leaves are harvested periodically. The early start also means the plants will be going to flower at the ideal time to save seed from them.
Varieties in the trial
- Meraviglia d’inverno
- Mira
- Rosemarry
- Valdor
- Humil
- Lento
