Has anyone ever raised really non-bitter head lettuce in Kansas or Missouri? I thought I would try it this year with drip irrigation, but most of the varieties are already a little bitter and it is only April. Has anybody out here managed it?

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), April 24, 2002

Answers

Lettuce likes to grow fast, so you neee plenty of organic material in the soil. Compost is the best.

-- Lynelle SOwestVA (X2ldp@aol.com), April 25, 2002.

Lettuce is about 99% water, so you need to keep it *well* watered and growing fast to dilute the bitter compounds. I remember reading somewhere about research on which varieties are least bitter; unfortunately, I don't remember where. Sorry! But at least the information exists . . . somewhere.

-- Marcia in MT (marciabundi@myexcel.com), April 25, 2002.

I've tried Boston Butter crunch. I think that is the name. It's a loose head lettuce.

-- PJC (zpjc5_@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

Anuenue is probably the best head lettuce for warmer weather. I got my seeds from Fedco in Maine.

-- vicki in NW OH (thga76@aol.com), April 25, 2002.

Batavia types do best in warm weather. Some head and some don't. I believe Anuenue is one (as above) and I believe Vanity eventually forms a head also. Neither is as watery as iceberg, and probably won't get anywhere near as large.

-- Nina (Ingardenwithcat@hotmail.com), April 26, 2002.

To "un-bitter" bolted lettuce, tear up into salad shreds, then soak overnight in cold water. Drain and dry.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), April 27, 2002.