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  • From: <wiediger AT msn.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Watering Lettuce Beds
  • Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 07:48:53 -0500

Allen, answers below:

Paul and Alison Wiediger
Au Naturel Farm
http://aunaturelfarm.homestead.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Allan Balliett" <igg AT igg.com>

>
> One thing I don't get, though, is the harvest cycle you mention. Here
> in Northern VA, I am getting one cutting a week from the same bed,
> and that's happening with almost zero sun. When the sunshines, well,
> it's embarassing how fast the lettuce grows. This is without
> additional nitrogen, just compost and water. I can't say off the top
> of my head how long between seeding and harvest, though. Probably
> 5wks.
>
> We can cut more than once on a seeding right up until about now. But by
> mid-June here, by the second week of cutting, it is already bolting, and
> getting bitter. We decided it was better from mid-June until the end of
> August to only plan on one cutting, to be sure the quality is of the best
> for our customers. From seed to premium cutting stage takes a different
> number of days depending upon the time of year. Right now, it's 17-18
> days, so for a Thursday harvest for market, we will be seeding every
> Sunday or Monday. By September, it'd 21 days or so, by November, about
> 25-27, in January, 5-6 weeks (with re-cutting taking 2 weeks or longer)


> However, the most recent seeding appears to be gettin about 30percent
> germination. That's not good, I'm afraid! ;-)

Lettuce doesn't like hot weather. We grow mesclun under shade in the
summer.

>
> So, I also don't understand the use of the seeder. Isn't the tape
> marking the where the row/bands will be?

The rows are on both side of the tape in bands. The seeder just makes the
delineation of the row sharper, making weeding and cutting easier.

>
> thanks again _Allan




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