While this summer was pretty much a flop – too hot and too
dry for much in the way of good vegetable production, the early fall has proved
to be just the opposite! Some where’s around mid August things got cooler and
wetter and, can you believe it, my pepper plants that had languished all summer
kicked into high gear! I’ve had a bumper and welcome crop that have become the
mainstay of my salads as celery is currently at 1.89 a bunch. That’s just too
expensive!
The change in the weather patterns also prompted me to plant
fifteen lettuce seeds in starter trays that consisted of Little Caesar and
Buttercrunch varieties on August the 15th. Most of them germinated
and were placed into tow cold frames I maintain in front of my house. My timing
was good as the day after they were transplanted out, it began to drizzle for
the next three days. I also went ahead and planted some Cherry Belle radish
seeds in the spaces between the small lettuce plants. They should be up for
harvest by the end of October when temperatures will still be moderate. The
lettuce should get big enough to harvest and then will stay in good shape under
glass for the balance of the winter. There’s something special about eating
fresh romaine lettuce in December!
