Have you ever thought about growing your own produce? There is something so rewarding about reaping what you personally sow! I am going on 22 years of gardening veggies and fruits. Each year I learn something new and try something new. One of my favorite veggies to grow is lettuce.
In our family garden we grow an abundance of lettuce and several different varieties. Lettuce is similar to grass in that once you cut it, it grows right back in about 3-4 weeks – giving you and endless supply of healthy organic lettuce all summer long. Salads from our garden are a staple at our dinner table throughout the summer months.
Lettuce has only 12 calories for one shredded cup. The darker the lettuce, the healthier it is. Lettuce contains fiber. In addition to filling you up, fiber improves your digestion.
Lettuce also contains vitamin C and beta-carotene which work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. This prevents the build up of plaque in your body and in turn is good for your heart.
Eaten raw, lettuce provides the body with several micronutrients that cannot be found in processed or cooked food. Eating raw foods increases your energy level.
Lettuce is so easy to grow! You can simply get a big plant container and put it in a window if you are not able to grow it outside in a garden, or you can put the plant container on a patio. Plant the seeds according to the directions, water them regularly, and within a few weeks your supply of lettuce will be ready to start harvesting. When you cut the lettuce be sure to leave about an inch at the bottom so it can grow back. Lettuce is a cold weather crop so you can plant it mid- Spring and grow it through mid-Fall.
Happy Gardening !
I’m in the process of helping our youngest (25,) who just bought his first home establish his own kitchen garden! The “seeds” you are planting in your children’s lives, through the gift of ‘working the land’ will last a life-time! Hugs to you for sharing these lessons with them!