The Great Romaine Experiment!

countrynaturals 6/2/2016, 12:52 am

I grew romaine for the first time this year, from store-bought plants. It was fine at first, but got limp and leggy when the weather started heating up. I was gonna yank it, but then decided to try something else. We have a south-facing sunroom, where I grow stuff in the winter. It doesn't get direct sun in the summer, but it is light and bright.

First I brought in my plants, which was easy because they were in containers all along.

I lopped the tops of some of them, harvested all the good leaves, and put them in the fridge in water. I wan't sure they'd crisp up but they did (took 24 hours).

I planted some more seeds and now I'm waiting for side shoots to grow on the main plants. These puppies will never be pretty, but I think we'll be able to harvest romaine all summer. Fingers crossed. The Great Romaine Experiment! 1280598131

The Great Romaine Experiment! 1280598131

Here's my set up (new seeds in the back left corner):
The Great Romaine Experiment! Romain10

FeedMeSeeMore 6/2/2016, 9:06 am

Romaine trees! I want romaine trees, too. I had great luck with romaine my first year (2013). Loved breezing past the grocery store lettuce section that year. We ate it all summer. Last year was not as successful so trying again using jiffy pot starters.
The cos romaine is not that crisp but I use croutons, nuts and carrots to give my salads some crunch.

has55 6/2/2016, 10:20 am

I want trees also.

countrynaturals 6/2/2016, 1:57 pm

Romaine trees! rofl

countrynaturals 6/4/2016, 6:26 pm

FYI, I just learned (the hard way) that romaine is a very thirsty and unforgiving plant. Embarassed

countrynaturals 6/8/2016, 11:07 am

FAILURE! The romaine I harvested at the beginning of this experiment was too bitter to eat. I don't know if it was the heat or poor watering (the leaves went limp multiple times when the containers got too dry). Then, today, I found multiple long green worms decimating the plants. Since I'm not much of a lettuce fan anyway, I just moved it all down to the chicken spa to let nature (and chickens) take care of it. I will try again with Four seasons Lettuce and see if I do any better. Rolling Eyes

**donnainzone5** 6/8/2016, 11:57 am

Those romaine trees were fine examples of healthy lettuce bolting!

Merveille des quatres saisons (four seasons) should be somewhat more heat-resistant. Still, better to plant lettuce earlier in the season--as I've found out, to my own chagrin.

countrynaturals 6/8/2016, 12:37 pm

donnainzone5 wrote:Those romaine trees were fine examples of healthy lettuce bolting!

Merveille des quatres saisons (four seasons) should be somewhat more heat-resistant. Still, better to plant lettuce earlier in the season--as I've found out, to my own chagrin.

The worms thought it was just fine. geek

We aren't big lettuce eaters, anyway, so it's no great loss, but it would be nice to have a little on hand for the occasional blt. flower

landarch 6/8/2016, 2:59 pm

I quit growing romaine type lettuces because I was tired of the bitterness...I now like Igloo and Bibb, and Buttercrunch.

kudos on experimenting, always seems to be worth trying something new.

countrynaturals 6/8/2016, 3:03 pm

landarch wrote:I quit growing romaine type lettuces because I was tired of the bitterness...I now like Igloo and Bibb, and Buttercrunch.

kudos on experimenting, always seems to be worth trying something new.

I may try Buttercrunch this fall. I love experimenting. geek

CapeCoddess 6/8/2016, 3:16 pm

landarch wrote:I quit growing romaine type lettuces because I was tired of the bitterness...I now like Igloo and Bibb, and Buttercrunch.

Rouge D' Hiver doesn't get bitter in my garden, even when it bolts. Reseeds itself very nicely, too. LOVE IT! Got it from Botanical Interests.
https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/view/3122/Lettuce-Romaine-Rouge-D-Hiver-Organic-HEIRLOOM-Seeds

It's my new fave next to Burpees Little Ceasar, which doesn't stay in ground long enough to get bitter.

CC

countrynaturals 6/8/2016, 4:49 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:
landarch wrote:I quit growing romaine type lettuces because I was tired of the bitterness...I now like Igloo and Bibb, and Buttercrunch.

Rouge D' Hiver doesn't get bitter in my garden, even when it bolts. Reseeds itself very nicely, too. LOVE IT! Got it from Botanical Interests.
https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/view/3122/Lettuce-Romaine-Rouge-D-Hiver-Organic-HEIRLOOM-Seeds

It's my new fave next to Burpees Little Ceasar, which doesn't stay in ground long enough to get bitter.

CC

Ooo, that's beautiful. I'll start looking for seeds. Actually, maybe I'll shop around on that site and see if I can get up an order. The Great Romaine Experiment! 3170584802

The Great Romaine Experiment! 3170584802

countrynaturals 2/5/2020, 11:45 am

Well, Duh! Forgot all about this and planted more romaine in the house. Embarassed

I'll just pretend I was growing it for compost all along, so I don't feel sooo stooopid. dangit

OhioGardener 2/5/2020, 11:52 am

Interesting, our Romaine lettuce is not at all bitter. It is very sweet to the taste buds, and I frequently pinch off leaves and eat them while working in the garden. Must be a difference in the soil.

countrynaturals 2/5/2020, 12:59 pm

OhioGardener wrote:Interesting, our Romaine lettuce is not at all bitter. It is very sweet to the taste buds, and I frequently pinch off leaves and eat them while working in the garden. Must be a difference in the soil.

Hmmm -- I went back over and tasted this batch and they weren't bitter, either, but they were tasteless, like eating grass. These were grown under lights, inside, and they're pale, so I'll give them another chance and move them out to the balcony. I have another variety out there now -- probably Little Gem -- and that's bitter, too.

Now I'm looking at this one:

Parris Island Cos

I hate to give up, but maybe I'm just not meant to grow greens. Sad

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