Romaine Lettuce... Really?

soFlaNative

soFlaNative

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Miz Anna decided she needed to experiment with container grown veggies on the front porch and since I left work I find myself caretaking. Not being to sure of proper timing and conditions we've been pooling whatever slight knowledge we possess while whatever happens.
She bought some seedlings labeled romaine lettuce that has leaves growing from a stalk. Nipping leaves from the plants make for good sandwich greens but these dont look like the Romaine with I'm familiar. I'll try cutting some stalks to see if that may spur new growth.
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These cores were placed in water and are looking like the Romaine I know.
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I tried Google searching with my phone this AM but the app keeps searching the image for words. I did find something that looked right but the article was in Espanol. I gave up before I flung my phone up in the tree.
Was just wondering if anyone recognizes what we have.
Thanks for your time.
 

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I do respect the effort and work many put into their home gardens! Gardening is NOT my thing - heck, I'd rather go to the Dentist! I almost once started a vegetable garden but after thinking about all the work I decided to go to the local fruit and vegetable store instead. lol

I did some just this past weekend along with a friend. We pulled out 9 ferns, transplanted a few bushes, planted a few new bushes and put down 120 pounds of black mulch. I HATE doing anything at all in the garden - I could never grow vegetables. I have an abundance of patience for mechanical thinks, but zero for anything that grows in the dirt.

Of all the years I have owned a home, (44 I think) I did the gardening only one season. After that, I sold all the equipment and hired a gardener. Learned my lesson in gardening! :o
 
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Our home of the past 7-1/2 years is a "patio home", HOA property with 20 homes around a private cul-de-sac. In addition to the house with 2-car garage we have a private 650 sq. ft. patio. I have a dozen large planting containers growing tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, lettuce, other goodies.

My romaine lettuce grows as shown in the OP second photo. We pull off a few leaves, rinse, and use for salads and sandwiches. Works like a charm. Three or four plants keep us supplied all summer.

Spring planting time comes, I mix in some composted manure to replenish the soil. Couple shots of Miracle Grow per month during the growing season.

Easy to do, and I always have sacks of veggies for the neighbors because we can't eat it all as fast as it produces.
 
Vegetarian Lasagna, w/Meat

"Nobody likes Eggplant." Lets just say a little goes a long way!

We've been cutting down on carbs, and have gone to Noodle free Spaghetti & meatballs and Noodle free Lasagna. We make the Lasagna in a bread pan, a traditional batch makes 3 bread pans and that is a meal for the two of us. Instead of noodles we use Zucchini or Eggplant sliced long ways and broiled until it sweats, dry off and layer it just like noodles. To replace spaghetti, we have a spiral slicer, and brown until lightly caramelized, dry off and serve with sauce and meatballs.

Ivan
 
I for one like and enjoy vegetable gardening. Later today I'm buying
some plants, seeds and potato seed while restocking rolled oats for the
mules. The mules are the fertilizer source along with compost and some
biochar for good measure.
My backyard home built Chinese/solar type green house supplies some
cool/cold weather veges during the winter months. I've scrounged enough free windows to expand the green house, now I just need to
talk myself into doing the work.
OP, your lettuce may have had a little to much nitrogen and got leggy.
Your container gardening is a great idea and if produce prices continue
to increase, a good investment.
 
I too enjoy gardening and growing about anything from veggies to trees. With current supply chain problems and societal events being even a little more self sufficient makes sense. IMO
 
soFlaNative said:
Miz Anna decided she needed to experiment with container grown veggies on the front porch and since I left work I find myself caretaking. Not being to sure of proper timing and conditions we've been pooling whatever slight knowledge we possess while whatever happens.
She bought some seedlings labeled romaine lettuce that has leaves growing from a stalk. Nipping leaves from the plants make for good sandwich greens but these dont look like the Romaine with I'm familiar. I'll try cutting some stalks to see if that may spur new growth.
attachment.php


These cores were placed in water and are looking like the Romaine I know.
attachment.php


I tried Google searching with my phone this AM but the app keeps searching the image for words. I did find something that looked right but the article was in Espanol. I gave up before I flung my phone up in the tree.
Was just wondering if anyone recognizes what we have.
Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...

I can't tell for sure but they might not be getting enough sunlight. The seedling need at least 8 hours of DIRECT SUNLIGHT per day.

No indirect light, or light shade will work. Good luck.
 
soFlaNative, your lettuce looks just like the Bib Lettuce that I grow each spring. I take the lower leaves and let it keep producing until it starts to get a strong taste or it bolts. Some folks let Bib Lettuce come up and form a kind of bunch and then harvest the entire cluster.
 
jeffrefrig But said:
I like eggplant 🍆. Had some fried last night. Am i nobody?

Eggplant is often used in Asian cuisine.

It took me a long time to try it and then welcome it. For me, the initial impression was negative since i hate eggs in any form except cookies, cake and anything that the eggs aren’t identified in. The name of this fruit is what kept me away.
Click to expand...
 
I'm with you; that doesn't look like the Romaine with which I'm familiar. I know very little about it -could be a different variety then we're used to.

Just looked up pictures of it; there does seem to be a little variation between them. There were pictures of what I've had in the past, but I didn't see any that looked like that first picture of yours.

Best of wishes,
Andy
 
Nothing better than fresh tomatoes from my garden. Tomatoes, baratta cheese, fresh basil (also from the garden) and a good olive oil. Pair it with a nice, chilled white wine and some crusty home made bread. It is the meal I would eat just before they strapped me into the electric chair. Thinking about it makes me pine for summer. That Romaine needs a good Caesar dressing and some freshly grated Parmesan cheese with some white anchovies.
 
Old Arkansawyer said:
OP, your lettuce may have had a little to much nitrogen and got leggy.
Your container gardening is a great idea and if produce prices continue
to increase, a good investment.
Click to expand...

BEEMER1 said:
I can't tell for sure but they might not be getting enough sunlight. The seedling need at least 8 hours of DIRECT SUNLIGHT per day.

No indirect light, or light shade will work. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input Old Arkan & Beemer.
8 hrs. of direct, SoFla high sky spring sunlight on a south facing concrete deck will cook most anything in a container. The collection of plants on the slab are in bright, not direct light from morning to late afternoon.

Still can't figure exactly what I have but the Bibb lettuce suggestion looked pretty close but for the vein pattern of the leafs. Not concerned, just curious but will continue to enjoy the pickings from the lettuce, spinach and swiss chard the wife managed to cram into her little tower.
Couple of cherry tomato, green pepper and bush beans bean varieties starting to flower, it's all fun,
 
Just info for info's sake...
We've been taking the cut down cores, keeping in water until some roots appear then planting. One decided to sucker instead of beginning to leaf and Voila! Looks just like the sprouts MizAnna bought for her planter.

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I know that as "leaf" lettuce. Pick the individual leaves as needed. grew a ton of it in WA when I lived there.
 
My wife and son LOVE to garden. Hence we have 3 raised beds in out yard for veggies...and son have a plot in a community garden near and a friend his Arlington, VA condo. We just finished prepping it for plantin. Of course, he needed a pergola, a raised bed, and a seat. We did all this over the weekend with mostly donated lumber. The "Z" is for the friend's daughter Zoe.

I love doing this kind of stuff, and i will participate in planting...Mrs raljr1 says that I am a druid in training with no graduation in sight.
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Robert
 
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