The Great Iceberg Lettuce Experiment
I’m growing iceberg lettuce in my garden this spring.
I understand this sounds counterintuitive. Most people start gardening so they don’t have to eat iceberg lettuce. But I love a good wedge salad smothered with my grandmother’s Roquefort dressing. So I’m challenging myself to see if I can grow iceberg lettuce that actually tastes good.
Here’s my plan: After a bit of research I bought a packet of ‘Red Iceburg’ seed from Territorial Seed Company, which they describe as “a regal alternative to the rather ordinary green iceberg types.” I want to start the seeds indoors this weekend and then set the transplants out in a couple of weeks, spacing them about 12 inches apart so the heads have plenty of room to mature. Too much nitrogen in the soil can lead to soft, spongy lettuce leaves that attract aphids. To avoid this problem, I’m just going to dig in an inch of compost and a dusting of organic granulated fertilizer before planting. Providing consistent water helps prevent tip burn, but I suspect it is also the key to crisp, succulent heads. As long as I can keep the slugs at bay, I should have my first harvest by the end of April!
Don’t forget, today is your last chance to enter the contest to with the seed-starting station and seed from Burpee and The Cook’s Garden. Just click here and leave a comment with your best garden advice!
OMGoodness, this is NOT your mothers iceberg lettuce! I may actually have to grow this one….it’s beautiful
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:51 amHi Willi, I’m growing iceburg this year as well, I think I ordered the same variety! I tried growing it last year after thinking the pictures of iceburg in the catalogues looked delicious and not at all like the plastic wrapped iceburgs I avoid in the grocery store. We had yummy results.
btw, I started the Chadwick Cherry tomatoes last weekend, I’ll give you a start or two if all goes well.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:36 pmOK ok so it isn’t the most haute lettuce. But if it’s served icy cold and crisp on a hot sandwich and eaten very quickly, the contrast in texture is pretty cool…Can’t wait to see how it goes!
February 23rd, 2010 at 3:22 pmAmanda´s last blog ..Ready, Set, Starts!
I can’t wait to hear how this goes for you. I’ve grown icebergs in the past and find that earwigs follow the slugs into the slimy interior of these tight-headed bundles. But, the heads I did get were delicious – nothing like the grocery store bland ones except for the fantastic crunch!
February 24th, 2010 at 9:05 amgardenmentor´s last blog ..Fall in Spring
Beautiful iceberg! I had no idea. Um, I think we need your grandmother’s roquefert dressing recipe!
February 24th, 2010 at 12:39 pmI want to paint a picture of that lettuce, it’s so pretty!
I second the roquefert dressing recipe request!
Lastly, I’ve convinced my sister who has a yard (I don’t) to have a veggie garden this year. I may have to lobby to get this lettuce in it, assuming the feet of snow ever melt. (yes the other Washington had FEET of snow this year, not happy making for this southern girl.)
February 24th, 2010 at 2:02 pmMaureen–I know! When I saw the picture I couldn’t resist!
Justine–I’m so glad you liked the results. I completely trust your veggie judgement. I’m starting my Italian tomatoes this weekend, so we’ll have to trade in a few weeks.
Amanda–The crunch totally can’t be beat on a sandwich. I’m envisioning super good BLTs this summer because apparently iceburg actually holds well in the heat.
GardenMentor. Noooo. Not earwigs. They are the grossest of all insects. I hope they do not find their way into the heads. Slugs I can handle, but earwigs give me the creeps.
LadyPeeJay and Emmaleigh–Don’t worry, as soon as I harvest a head you can expect a wedge salad recipe, complete with roquefort dressing, stat.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:16 pmso funny I cam across your blog today and one of the packets of seeds in the mail to me right now is the red iceberg. I ordered my seeds from seed savers, but it seem the same. I grew leaf lettuce last year so I am wondering if this will be harder or easier.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:20 pmI’ve never grown iceberg, so I’ll be very interested to see what comes up in your garden. I wish I could still eat some blue cheese dressing. Some kind of yum.~~Dee
February 24th, 2010 at 3:22 pmThat iceberg looks absolutely delicious… I got my seeds from Baker Creek Heirlooms and I’m stoked to get them in the starter pots this weekend. Sadly I didn’t get any iceberg but I think you’ve inspired me to go find some seeds and add it to my lettuce patch!
February 26th, 2010 at 2:05 pm[...] I’m going to put the seed starting station up at home this weekend so I can start those iceberg lettuce seedlings. I’m planning on taking step-by-step photos as I set it up and will post them with [...]
February 26th, 2010 at 2:21 pmHi Willi,
I attended your seed starting class last weekend and got all the supplies I need to get started. I do have a question – there are some seeds that I got that I think are supposed to be started outside vs. inside. Can you tell me (or help me find a good guide on this) which ones of the seeds I got should not be started inside?
peppers
squash – both summer and zucchini
basil
jalepeno
pole beans
spinach
beets
lettuce
carrots
thank you so much – I learned a lot at your seminar and am excited to start growing!
March 1st, 2010 at 6:33 pmSusan
[...] harvest. That fact hasn’t stopped me from planning a meal centered around this (hopefully!) delicious experiment. Can you say wedge salad with roquefort dressing, fried chicken and biscuits? Yum! Share and [...]
June 3rd, 2010 at 10:49 am[...] those of you who have been following my great iceberg lettuce experiment, I’m happy to report that nice big heads are forming. Hurrah! Despite its name, iceberg [...]
July 1st, 2010 at 9:30 amI honestly enjoyed this. It was extremely educational and useful. I will come back to check on upcoming posts.
July 28th, 2010 at 4:41 pm