Vegetable gardening is not only extremely rewarding but is also very therapeutic. Learning how to plant a vegetable garden from scratch and tending them until they are ready to eat is probably the most satisfying result you can get from any type of gardening.
There are a number of vegetables you can grow, but for the first time grower choose something that is simple to maintain such as lettuce. Compared to larger vegetables such as pumpkin or marrow, lettuce doesn't take up a great deal of space to grow and can be used for intercropping between rows of slower growing vegetables.
Lettuces need fertile, well-drained soil for healthy, leafy produce. Sow indoors in small trays or pots and plant the stronger seedlings out when the weather is warm enough. Make sure the weather is warm enough to plant seedlings out as cold weather will damage their growth.
Seeds need to be planted approximately 1/8 - 3/8 deep and seperated by 6-12 inches from each other. For different varieties, check the packet first as accurate planting guidelines will be given. Lettuces grow on the surface of the soil and have short roots so moisture needs to be in good supply. Where possible, try to water the lettuce round the base as water on the leaves encourages disease, especially during night time temperatures.
Use a hoe to keep weeds down between the rows. Unwanted weeds will strip the lettuce of the nutrients it needs.
Lettuce plants are ideal for pests who like to hide themselves in the leaves. Aphids, flea beetles and leafhoppers are a few of the guilty parties that can be found. Slugs are a more common nuisance and steps will need to be taken to stop these pests stripping your lettuce away before you are ready to harvest them. Watering with a high pressure hose may temporarily keep the pests at bay but an insecticide will keep them under control for longer.
Aside from pests, there are fungal diseases such as Anthracnose (Microdochium panattonianum) which can be present in untouched soil, as well as Bottom Rot (Rhizoctonia Solani) which occurs in poorly drained soil. Well maintained lettuce should keep this disease at bay.
Lettuce will bolt if they become short of water or are too over-crowded so do bare this in mind. Bolting happens when the plant goes to seed and the leaves stop growing. Shading will help prevent bolt so try to plant near a taller crop.
With a little time, patience and care, planting lettuce will lead to great rewards. Remember, if you don't have much space in the garden, try planting lettuce in a container instead - you should be able to achieve great results on a smaller scale.
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