With the summer season upon us, now is a great time enjoy fresh leafy greens, crunchy salads and tasty herbs.
We add it to sandwiches and salads every day but did you know there are hundreds of varieties of lettuce leaves! Iceberg, Cos and round lettuce will be familiar but have you tried butterhead, raddichio, lollo rosso, red chard, escarole, mizuna or tatsoi?
Fun facts about lovely lettuce
- Lettuce was first cultivated by the Egyptians who turned it from a weed into a food plant. It later spread to the Greeks and Romans, then into the rest of Europe and to the Americas with Christopher Columbus
- All lettuce varieties are packed with essential nutrients, vitamins A, B, C, K and are naturally low in calories
- Lettuce is about 95% water so is refreshing and rehydrating
- Raw lettuce is great in salads, wraps, spring rolls, burgers and sandwiches, while Chinese varieties are perfect for adding to stir-fries and noodles
- If you are growing your own lettuce or other leafy greens, now is the perfect time to plant your seeds. March to September is the best time for sowing and you should have some leaves ready to eat in about four weeks
If you’re looking to add herbs to your summer dishes, then growing your own is a great way to ensure you have a constant supply of fresh, flavoursome herbs. French flat leaf parsley, basil, dill, chives and coriander are easy to grow and can be added to a variety of dishes so why not get the whole family involved in planting and harvesting this season.
We’ve got some great grow your own starter kits so have a look around our website for growing inspiration.
