Picking lettuce Salad Bowl Green is a cut-and-come-again lettuce with soft, green, curly leaves and a mild, fresh, slightly sweet flavour with a delicate, crisp texture. Because the leaves remain tender and develop very little bitterness, this lettuce is exceptionally versatile in the kitchen and ideal for everyday use. As it does not form a compact head, it is grown as a cut-and-come-again lettuce. Harvest the largest outer leaves while leaving the centre of the plant intact. This allows the plant to continue producing new leaves, providing regular harvests over several weeks. Harvest preferably in the early morning, when the leaves are at their firmest and crispest. An important advantage of this variety is that it is slow to bolt, giving a much longer harvesting period than many other lettuce varieties.
The young leaves are delicious as the base for green salads or mixed salads and combine perfectly with tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, sweet peppers, avocado and sprouts. They also pair well with soft cheeses such as mozzarella, feta and goat's cheese, as well as smoked salmon, grilled chicken, prawns or a boiled egg. For extra flavour, the leaves can be combined with nuts, seeds and fruit such as apples, pears, grapes, strawberries or oranges. Thanks to its soft, curly leaves, this lettuce is also ideal for sandwiches, wraps, pitas, burgers and tacos. The leaves make an attractive bed for fish, meat or vegetarian dishes and are an excellent garnish for cold platters, buffets and cheese boards. Although this lettuce is mainly eaten raw, the leaves can also be lightly cooked. Add them at the very end of cooking to stir-fries, pasta dishes, omelettes or soups, allowing them to wilt only slightly while retaining their fresh flavour. Young leaves can also be used in smoothies or vegetable juices. Its mild flavour is enhanced by a simple dressing of olive oil and lemon juice, balsamic vinegar or a creamy yoghurt or mustard dressing. Fresh herbs such as chives, parsley, dill, basil, chervil and mint complement this lettuce perfectly. Non hardy annual. Height: 20 - 30 cm. Width: 25 - 35 cm.
Indoor sowing/outdoor sowing under glass: early April
Outdoor sowing: from May on
Germination: 7 - 10 days
Germination temp.: 10 - 18 °C
Sowing depth: ½ cm
Planting distance: 35 - 40 cm
Planting position: sunny
Days til harvesting: 40 - 45 days
Start sowing picking lettuce indoors or under glass in April in pots or seed trays filled with light, moist seed compost. Sow the seeds thinly and cover them with approximately ½ cm of fine seed compost. Keep the soil consistently moist during germination, but avoid waterlogging. At a temperature of 10 - 18 °C, the first seedlings usually emerge within 7 - 10 days. Once the seedlings have developed a few true leaves and the risk of night frost has passed, harden them off before transplanting them to a sunny location. Space the plants 35 - 40 cm apart to allow them to develop a large, loose rosette of leaves.
From May onwards, picking lettuce can also be sown directly outdoors once the danger of night frost has passed. Sow in rows spaced 35 - 40 cm apart. Place two to three seeds every 35 - 40 cm and cover them with approximately ½ cm of soil. Keep the soil evenly moist during germination. After 3 - 4 weeks, thin the seedlings to the strongest plant at each sowing position. Leaf lettuce grows best in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil that retains sufficient moisture. Water regularly, especially during warm and dry periods, to prevent bolting and bitterness. Applying a layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
The first leaves can be harvested approximately 45 days after sowing. Harvest the outer leaves while leaving the centre of the plant intact, allowing it to continue producing fresh leaves over a long period. By sowing a small quantity every one to two weeks, you can enjoy a continuous supply of fresh leaf lettuce throughout most of the growing season. Protect young plants from slugs, particularly during damp weather, and check regularly for aphids so that any infestation can be dealt with promptly.
