We have lettuce in pots that is ready for you to take home and eat.

      What a great day here at the greenhouse.  Love the gardeners this morning that stopped.  There was a line waiting at the cash register so that is such a blessing for us.  We have worked really hard to have plants, vegetables, and all look good.  They do look amazing outside on the racks.  One story from this morning.  Gentleman came last week for zucchini plants.  I just had planted them so of course they were not up.  Then he heard I really don't want you to plant them before June 1.  So today he came and they were up and growing.  He was amazed how quickly they grow.  That is what the growing greenhouse does.  He was happy.  AND that is what we need to do help with Gardening and you and make our gardeners happy.
       Lettuce pots are great fun.  You can take it home today, and have fresh lettuce right away.  I would trim around it and cut the larger leaves, leave the smaller ones to have it grow back and cut again. 
 
How To Grow Lettuce In A Container
Container growing lettuce is a common practice for small space gardeners such as apartment dwellers. It can allow an early start because the pots are brought indoors during light freezes and left outdoors during early spring days. Lettuce is a cool season crop and leaves develop best in cool but not chill temperatures. Growing lettuce in containers also allows you to control weeds and pests more easily than in a large gardening space and affords quick access when you want some leaves for a salad.
 
Planting Lettuce in Container
Growing lettuce in containers requires the right type of pot and planting medium. Lettuce needs ample room for roots but you can grow several varieties in 6 to 12 inch pots. The greens need a consistent supply of moisture as they are almost 95 percent water but cannot tolerate wet roots. A clay pot provides a permeable surface that can evaporate any excess water and prevent soggy roots. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes in whatever container you chose.
 
The physical attributes for how to grow lettuce in a container are just the media and pots but now we must turn our attention to sowing and management. Planting lettuce in container gardens can be done by direct sowing or transplants. Prior to planting add ½ tablespoon of time release fertilizer per gallon of soil.
 
How to Grow Lettuce in a Container
Use a professional soil mix for planting lettuce in container situations, as the mix is formulated to hold water and provide nutrients. A soil mix is usually peat or compost, soil, and either vermiculite or perlite for water retention. You’ll need 1 to 3 ½ gallons of soil depending on the size of your container. Choose a lettuce mix marked“cut and come again” for repeat harvests. Some recommended varieties for growing lettuce in pots are Black Seeded Thompson and red or green oak leaf types. Loose leaf lettuces are better suited to pots than head lettuce.
 
The most important resource when growing lettuce in containers is water. Lettuce has shallow roots and responds best to consistent, shallow watering. Plants grown in the garden need at least an inch per week; lettuce in pots need a bit more.
 
There are numerous pest that enjoy lettuce as much as you do. Combat them with blasts of water or insecticidal soap; and for slugs, trap them with containers of beer.
 
Harvesting Container Growing Lettuce
Cut the outside leaves of loose lettuce when the leaves are young. The leaves will grow back and then you can cut away the entire plant. Always cut lettuce when it is tender as they are quick to bolt  and become bitter .
 

taken
from gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/lettuce/growing-lettuce-containers.htm
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net