Post by jason on Jul 22, 2011 11:25:00 GMT -5
The lettuce are 'bolting' and that is caused by one of the following things. Heat, lack of sunlight or just too old.
Lettuce is not a summer crop but with the Tower garden and the fact that water, that is cooler than the air temperature, run across the roots it allows us to extend the growing season and grow crops in the warmer months that we would no longer be able to grow if we were growing them in the ground.
Heat resistant varieties are available for some lettuce. Some varieties are more likely to bolt than others. In our experience Romaine bolts quickly compared to the Bibb and Red Crisps that we plant. You can also harvest the lettuce a little earlier, before it begins to bolt.
If the lettuce is getting very little to no sunlight they will stretch for sunlight. When we have Towers indoors for a number of days at indoor shows some of the lettuce starts to bolt.
Lettuce also bolts as it gets older. It will also get tough and more bitter. Some people dont mind this and will continue to eat it.
Lettuce is not a summer crop but with the Tower garden and the fact that water, that is cooler than the air temperature, run across the roots it allows us to extend the growing season and grow crops in the warmer months that we would no longer be able to grow if we were growing them in the ground.
Heat resistant varieties are available for some lettuce. Some varieties are more likely to bolt than others. In our experience Romaine bolts quickly compared to the Bibb and Red Crisps that we plant. You can also harvest the lettuce a little earlier, before it begins to bolt.
If the lettuce is getting very little to no sunlight they will stretch for sunlight. When we have Towers indoors for a number of days at indoor shows some of the lettuce starts to bolt.
Lettuce also bolts as it gets older. It will also get tough and more bitter. Some people dont mind this and will continue to eat it.
