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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] lettuce less bitter

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  • From: Richard Robinson <rrobinson AT nasw.org>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] lettuce less bitter
  • Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:33:07 -0400

Gary:

Thanks very much for all this information. How do you attach the shade cloth
to the hoops? I'd like to find a clip, rather than weight it down to the
ground on both sides.

--
Richard Robinson
www.nasw.org/users/rrobinson/
Hopestill Farm
www.hopestill.com



On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:40:18 -0700, Gary Scott wrote:
> Richard,
>
> I am in Central VA, we are experiencing higher than normal heat. I grow
> lettuce year round, but this summers' heat has been a challenge. I water
> lettuce rows in the AM before the sun hits them with drip irrigation, I
>water
> them again in the mid afternoon overhead with a hose, yes it is time
> consuming. I like the following varieties: New Red Fire (favorite of the
> summer reds), Magneta, Cherokee, Coastal, Nevada (favorite green summer
> leaf), and Jericho.
>
>
> Last year I used a large shade cloth 50%, slows the growth down a bit, but
> definitely keeps the lettuce cool and reduces the bitter taste. I bought the
> bender from Johnny's Seeds for being EMT pipe this summer; I did 1/2 EMT
> first, have switched to 3/4, the 3/4 is easier to push in the ground. I
> bought two new 10' x 100' 50% shade cloth from FarmTek, happy with the
> results. The first heads of lettuce are tender, sweet, not bitter.
>
>
> I harvest early AM, take the lettuce to large commercial size stainless
>steel
> sinks that are of course under cover, I let the lettuce sit in the cool
>water
> for an hour or more, I then refrigerate in large plastic tubs, they can hold
> about 12 LBs. I do this at least one day before going to the market or
> delivering wholesale, so the lettuce can stay cold for 24 hours, this will
> also help reduce the bitterness.
>
>
> My lettuce is not bitter, however, the heat does seem to make it a little
> tougher. I sell out of lettuce at the market each week, because only one
> other producer is CRAZY enough to grow it in this heat. 
>
>
> Gary






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