6/15/09

Baby, Just Smell the Lettuce - Garden Party!


Because I love Kimba so much, and because I'm gimpy for a few weeks, laid up in bed after foot surgery, I'm joining in on her Garden Party to talk about our lettuce beds.  


Because a lettuce garden is quite the project!



(Melissa, me, and Kimba - unfortunately not in our gardens!)

Depending on the zone you live in, you may be experiencing what we are here in Oregon: Rain and cool days.  And with the cooler weather, our lettuce is really thriving, as we've been enjoying it since March.

Yes, since March!



1.  We start our lettuce plants by seed in our little greenhouse, allowing them to germinate and to grow 4-6 inches high.

2. Then we transfer the germinated plants to the outside raised beds.

3. Water + sunshine = growth.



We're on our 3rd round now, and my husband will be taking the small plants from the greenhouse today and transferring them into our outdoor raised beds.



Just ask the guests who've been to our house for dinner in the last couple of months if they've enjoyed our Coughlin greens!? 



(Great friends - Kimberly, my daughter Abby, Lauren, Judy, and myself - at a recent dinner party in our backyard)



Brought in straight from the garden and served with a tiny bit of dressing, cheese, croutons and freshly chopped herbs.

The smell is soooo fresh and delicious, you just want to put your nose into it.

In fact, I recently said to my daughter: 

Baby, just put your nose right in that lettuce and smell!

So she did.


And then I did.

What do we feed our garden?  

Garden food.  Don't forget to check out our $5 compost bin that this writer is talking about!

Oh, and one more important thing. I think I should add  step #4 to my list:

4. Take your garden greens and share them with your friends!



What is your favorite kind of lettuce?  

(Very top photo:  Various greens that came straight out of our garden beds!  Butter crunch is my favorite.)

37 comments:

Lianne said...

Beautiful lettuce! Perfect for a garden party! I'll make the dressing, you bring the salad, okay?! :)

Jadehollow said...

I'm jealous.. I haven't had anything to harvest from any of my plants yet.. hopefully soon.
The lettuce looks wonderful.
Debbie

Funky Junk Interiors said...

Ohhh, that looks delicious! I can't wait for harvesting time in our area.

Donna

a woman who is said...

Gardening and yard sales! Lots going on here as always.

Your lettuce is divine!

Southern Fried Gal said...

Looks so yummy! I'm a southern gal and that takes me back to my grandparents' farm. We would pick fresh lettuce and serve with crumbled bacon and fresh green onions drizzled with a tiny bit of hot bacon grease. Yummm! Thanks for evoking the memory! And I'm jealous that you have a greenhouse!

Shell in your Pocket said...

Looks yummy! So green and fresh!
sandy toe

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

We actually had some success with our lettuce this year. But living in Florida it got hot pretty quick. But I do love the smell of fresh lettuce. This year we only grew romaine. We weren't sure how it would do but it did great. We'll probably branch out next time and try something else as well.
Always love your photos!
hugs.
Kim

Michele said...

Gorgeous lettuce! I really need to tear up more of this suburban lawn and plant some veggies, am green with envy!

Suzann said...

I wish I was able to smell it too. Everything looks so delish.

Ashley @ AshleysBusy said...

I love salad. I was just talking to my boyfriend yesterday, telling him that I don't get people who say they don't like vegetables. What, seriously, there isn't a single vegetable out there that you like? That's just plain crazy!

Your lettuce looks fabulous. lol, I never really thought I'd ever say that.

Astrid in Bristling Acres said...

Gorgeous lettuce! Now I need to find the perfect homemade salad dressing...I'm still searching!

TidyMom said...

oh now that looks YUMMY!!! I haven't grown a garden since I was a kid!!!

~TidyMom

Deidra said...

We are growing lettuce for the first time this year. OMG! Delicious. I will never be able to eat iceburg lettuce again.

Marie said...

Yum - the pics of your beautiful lettuce made me drool! Too bad we don't have smell-a-puter! (hmm...that doesn't sound right, but you get my drift).

Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com

Melanie said...

Man! That lettuce is beautiful.
I like to put my nose in cilantro. ;>)
Melanie@Bella~Mella

Roeshel said...

Your growing a salad! It looks soooo good! Great photos too! I hope ours turns out that tasty looking!

stephanie h said...

Oh wow! I'm jealous and now I think I am gonna have me a big old salad for lunch! :)

trish said...

What delicious salads you must be enjoying! Next year (Jan) we plant to start some seeds indoors too. We started our garden a little bit late this year, so still waiting for the fruits...smile. Not to mention we have been building up our compost and that takes a bit of time.
All in good time! :o)

Nancy Rosalina said...

Hi Sandy,

I love it all! And, you just can't beat a good green salad this time of year!

I want to thank you for your visit to my blog, (before I left for vaction) I have been busy as a bee trying to catch up on my visiting. I hope you will come back often! It was so nice to have you.

Hope you have a wonderful day. Nancy

Kirstin said...

I love all kinds of lettuce. I usually buy it bagged..snicker...and I love the spring mix.

I planted lettuce in my garden but the stuff from seed is having issues )C: which makes me sad. I do have 4 plants that someone gave me, and they're doing well. I may need to do something different for next year.

I always love how yummy your lettuce looks.

Unknown said...

I love your lettuce. You are on my list to get back to after my big wedding brunch for 100. I hope your foot feels better soon.

Love your kids and your home.

Cynthia

Farmgirl Cyn said...

Peppery arugula would be my favorite! Added to a mixed green salad, it adds just the right amount of bitter/pepper flavor!
My lettuce is doing great! We are eating off it daily!

Decor To Adore said...

There is nothing better than fresh lettuce!

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

YUM! Love your lettuce (don't love that photo of me, however. Who is that? eesh.)

So jealous of your garden! It sounds so healthy and delicious!

Jeanie said...

Thanks for the link. I keep lurking and really enjoy your blog. I love your romantic and enthusiastic lettuce-love. I doubt anyone can read this without craving a fresh salad! :) I know I am on my way to grab some fresh leaves now!

GiBee said...

We have Simpson Lettuce -- wavy leaf lettuce that is delicate, crunchy at the base and soft and tender at the tip. Very delicious.

We also planted head lettuce - but I'm not enjoying that too much, as Arugula, which we loved, but it bolted way too soon.

I recently had to cut back all the leaf lettuce because all the rain made it just EXPLODE. I hope some of it comes back!!!

Muzzymom86 said...

I love lettuce straight from the garden. My husbands grandmother used to give it to us. But she doesn't garden anymore. I have been asking everyone I know to PLEASE plant me some LETTUCE!

Christina said...

Oh my! What goodness. It just makes me want a big bowl full of summer. We did find some delicious baby lettuce at our local farmer's market last week. I hope to try some seeds closer to fall. Right now it is so hot and humid here that it's all I can do to keep our tomatoes and peppers alive.

Our Little Blessings said...

I live in OR too! :) I wish I would have planted lettuce. So far, I haven't planted anything, but my mother-in-law has. Guess we will be enjoying her garden this year.

Emily@remodelingthislife said...

Awesome! Nothing like lettuce growing in the yard. Great job, Sandy!

ohio12 said...

do you have some homeade dressings that are simple but good? i usually use Newman's Own Balsamic, which is fine, but I would like to make my own.

Gabrielle said...

It's beautiful, I love growing lettuce!

Alyssa Rose said...

I am not a "food" type of gardener but I have to say I love the color of the lettuce! It is beautiful! I am sure it tastes as good as it looks! ;)

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

Your lettuce looks so yummy. Makes me want to have a salad right now.

Ms. Tee said...

What beautiful lettuce! I didn't know you had foot surgery - I'm so behind in my reading. I hope you're feeling better soon~ :)

Audra Lynn said...

Wow. Your lettuce is beautiful. I don't grow anything, so I'm super-impressed by people who do.

Kimba said...

Beautiful! I'm forwarding this post to The Hubster. I want some lettuce beds. It's sooooo much better when it goes straight from the garden to your salad bowl.

I go to a pick-your-own farm for lettuce. You can get a big plastic grocery bag full for $3. Major deal! And it last a long time because it's fresh!

Kimba