leaf lettuce

[medako]

I'm just full of questions today.

I picked a bunch of lettuce a little while ago and got it all cleaned up and popped a piece in my mouth. It was kinda bitter. That's not normal, is it? Was it not quite ready to be picked?

[Mama Mangia]

some lettuce is a bit more bitter than others - leaf lettuce to me really isn't bitter - remember that lettuce has to be picked when it is full sized, tender and young - once it gets "over mature" it gets woody and bitter - you may have waited too long to pick it

[Mrs. Chipotle]

Most all lettuce is bitter to me; that's what dressing is for!

[medako]

I might have waited too long...oh well, I'll probably eat it anyways...it just needs lots of "extras"

[Mama Mangia]

now you know - when planting - plant enough to eat for a couple days - then wait a week and plant some more and so on - then you don't have this huge harvest of lettuce going to waste - but you'll be able to do your weekly "grocery shopping" in the garden

[medako]

okay, so that never crossed my mind and now I have lettuce coming out of my ears! I bet I do that next year!

[Mama Mangia]

I don't know how much you like lettuce - but I also enjoy lettuce skillet fried with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper or other seasonings! A few pieces of tomato or cuke can be added - makes a great sandwich! Just fry until wilted - uses up a lot of lettuce that way! Or fry in Italian dressing - great flavor - mmmmm.

[GregGraves]

I like leaf lettuce but my wife only eats iceberg lettuce. I sneak it in to salads but she knows it's there and it's left over. What's the big deal? It's all greens. Do they taste different or is it the color. Maybe I could dye the greens blue and make them her favorite color -- purple?

[Mama Mangia]

believe it or not - different lettuces do have different tastes!

but I love a variety of lettuce in my salad - adds a lot to a salad!