Seed Guide 2007 pgs 01/41 - McKenzie Seeds

in the summer direct into moist, rich soil.
Germination can be rather erratic in hot
weather; but growth is rapid once the
seedlings emerge. Sow salad chicories in
shallow rows 12in (30cm) apart and thin
out to 5in (13cm) apart.
Endive
This is another basic ingredient of autumn
and winter salads giving crisp, tender
leaves after blanching. Sow the seed
thinly and shallowly in succession from
spring to mid-summer. Sow in rows 12in
(30cm) apart and thin out seedlings to
12in (30cm) apart. Blanching makes the
leaves of chicory and endive white with a
sweeter flavour and crispier texture. It is
carried out from late autumn to midwinter
and simply involves covering the
plants as required when the leaves are
dry. Use upturned flower pots, or wooden
boxes.
Lettuce
A crisp and freshly picked lettuce is at the
heart of many delicious salad meals,
snacks and sandwiches. It comes in a
variety of forms and, with some planning,
the season for lettuce can be extended
from late spring and summer into
autumn.
Cabbage, cos and iceberg types of lettuce
are ready to eat 10-12 weeks after
sowing, while the loose-leaf varieties are
ready to start cutting about seven weeks
after sowing.
With all types sow about six feet (two
metres) of row at a time, as shallowly as
possible, making the first sowing in early
spring, preferably with landscape fabric as
protection. Sow thinly in rows 12in (30cm)
apart and thin out to 6-12in (15-30cm)
apart. Successional sowings can continue
until mid-summer at roughly three-week
intervals. The seed will germinate at quite
low soil temperatures, but can prove
stubborn to germinate when the soil
temperature rises above 75F (24C). For a
blend of textures and flavours McKenzie's
Mesclun is ideal.
G R O W I N G I N F O R M A T I O N
Cut and come again lettuce
A new and very productive method of
growing lettuce, whereby the young
leaves and not the hearted lettuce are
harvested. By this method the yields are
higher; cropping is earlier and less space is
needed to produce the same amount of
lettuce. The needs of a family of four
throughout the season can be met from
an area of 5-6 square yards using the leaf
lettuce method - less than half that
required for hearted lettuce production.
5-6 square yards should produce a
quantity of leaves equivalent to 4-5
hearted lettuce per week.
The choice of varieties is very important as
close spacing can make the leaves extra
bitter. Also most varieties have bitter
leaves in the early stage which disappear
as the crop matures.
Most good garden soils should not need
any additional fertilizer and if fertilizer is
given. Care should be taken to avoid
giving too much nitrogen as this causes
bitterness in the leaves.
The soil should be moist but not wet and
the seed bed raked thoroughly before
sowing to ensure a fine tilth.
In this method the lettuces are grown
very close together in rows 5in (12.5cm)
apart. A row 1/2-3/4in (12-19mm) should
be drawn out and the seeds sown thinly
along it. There should be approximately
14-16 seeds per foot of row, which ought
to produce about 12-15 plants per foot.
Sowing can be done at 14 day intervals
from April-mid May and again in August
for continuity of supply. The length of
row will depend upon the amount you
will require over 7 days as sowing and
harvesting are done ideally at 7 day
intervals.
Little cultivation is necessary no thinning
is required and very little weeding as the
plants will soon smother germinating
weed seedlings.
W W W . M C K E N Z I E S E E D S . C O M
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