12 lettuce plants that thrive in Sonoma County

Can you tell me a little something about the different types of lettuces and a few varieties that do well here in Sonoma County?

Iceberg lettuce isn’t the only kind of lettuce found in grocery stores or farmers’ markets anymore. There are so many types of lettuce, it’s hard to choose which ones to grow. Luckily, they’re very easy to grow and can be grown in the ground, a planter box or a container.

There are a few things you need to know about these tasty plants before you go out and start buying. Some varieties are more delicate and like the cool - but not cold - weather, while others can handle a little bit more warm weather and will continue to grow and produce with some afternoon shade from a cool frame or hoop tunnel .

All lettuce seeds can be sown directly into the soil whether you sow in spring or fall. Read the descriptions of each lettuce variety and choose a few different ones to dress up the look and taste of your salad.

Butterhead/Bibb Lettuce: This type has soft leaves with a mild taste and beautiful light green, mottled or slightly red colors. The leaves form a small, loose head that resembles a rosette. Butterheads reach maturity in 60-75 days. Try growing Pirat, Speckled Amish and Tom Thumb.

Loose-leaf Lettuces: These are excellent for growing in containers, and some take as few as 50 days to harvest. The leaves are generally light and ruffled, and they mix well with other salad green varieties.

The plants can be harvested by trimming off the top two-thirds or by harvesting the older, outer leaves. Let them keep growing new leaves, and you’ll be harvesting again and again. Try De Morges Braun, Prizehead and Salad Bowl.

Romaine Lettuce: This hearty, upright lettuce can be grown into crisp heads or harvested as long individual leaves. Romaine is slightly more bitter tasting than most other varieties.

It is the most common lettuce used in Caesar salads. Grow Forellenschluss, Pandero and Rouge D’ Hiver.

Batavian types grow big rosettes of leaves that resemble iceberg types, but with loose leaves forming a round head of lettuce. The seeds germinate well in hot conditions and have excellent heat and cold tolerance. Try growing Anuenue, Cardinale and Pablo.

Tasty Salad Mixes: Liven up your salad patch and salad bowl with contrasting colors, tastes and leaf forms.

In a six-pack, you can get a half-dozen different lettuces, all suitable for cut-and-come-again growing. Another alternative is to grow a few different varieties yourself.

Mesclun mix is a blend of lettuce and salad greens. Some mixes can be spicy, and others will be milder, so try a few to see which you like.

Whether you sow seeds or plant seedlings, make sure the soil has good drainage and preferably 5-6 hours of daily sun. Dappled sunlight is okay, but there should be more sun than shade during the day. This will ensure good, productive growth.

Sprinkle the seeds on the prepared soil with lots of organic matter mixed in, lightly cover the seeds with a sprinkling of soil and water well, using a shower nozzle.

Continue to water the seeds, sometimes every day, until you see them emerging. Do not let the soil dry out. Keep the seedlings damp but not soaking wet or they will begin to rot.

In time, you will be harvesting the lettuce leaves gradually so you can many enjoy weeks and weeks of delicious salads and greens.

Dana Lozano and Gwen Kilchherr are garden consultants. Send your gardening questions to them at pdgardendoctor@gmail.com. The Garden Doctors can answer questions only through their column, which appears twice a month in the Sonoma Home section and online at pressdemocrat.com.