Lettuce varieties query

[daveh]

I have recently moved to Shetland (in mid-April) and have always had success in growing the Lobjoits Cos variety of lettuce outside in the open ground. I admit I lived previously in Hertfordshire in a good growing area. However, my Lobjoits cos lettuces have been transplanted yet seem to be just sitting there with little actual growth after a few weeks. Are there any varieties of lettuce that can be recommended by contributors to grow here?
I live in Cunningsburgh and our garden is in a windswept area thus my growing conditions may be different to others here.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks

[Fifi]

Hello Dave. Welcome to the forum and to Shetland. We're growing Iceberg <Jefferson> this year from seed which seem to be ok. We're in Hillswick. I think we've had various varieties of lettuce over the years here - most seem to be ok, as far as I can remember.

Some folk here might grow them in polytunnels. There might well be some more knowledgeable people along shortly to give you more help.

[daveh]

Thanks, Fiona.
I have some other varieties, including Romaine, so I will try again. It's really a case of trial and error to see what varieties of veggies I will eventually be successful with here. I have made a veggie patch from a patch of garden that was basically never cultivated. I have obtained some peat, some seaweed and cows muck so I have the ingredients at least.

[maree]

Welcome to the forum daveh. I've sowed a few lettuce seed this year - iceberg I think and they seem to be comin on ok. The soil has been a bit dry at times this year, so they've had a couple of drinks over the past few weeks. My peas were coming on really well until mr maree painted the shed yesterday.......he thought they were weeds and trampled them all To be fair to mr maree, all I ever usually cultivate IS weeds

Hope your other varieties come on ok. Sounds like you've given your soil a treat onywye.

[daveh]

Thanks, Maree.
The lettuces looked fine when I planted them and they still look fine but not much bigger some weeks later. I will certainly try other varieties. My problem here is, a bit like tonight, the quite strong winds which seem to harm tender plants. I have fenced off the newly-dug veggie patch to keep out the hungry local rabbit population and have since put netting over the fencing as a form of wind break. I brought up with us some rhubarb and gooseberry bushes and the wind has played havoc with them also. I have yet to pick the rhubarb as the crop continually gets blown off every few days whilst the gooseberry leaves keep going black and then die. I am sure that this is a challenge that I will have to get used to and will certainly not let it beat me.
My sympathy to you about your lost pea crop. Mine is still struggling on at the moment.
Can anyone offer tips as to what vegetable crops rabbits hate?
Thanks,
Dave

[Pat]

Hi daveh

I've been growing one of those mixtures of different lettuce leaves this year and they seem to be doing fine. I sowed a few and when they came up about 2 weks ago I sowed another lot and they are just coming above the ground now, so I'm going to sow another lot. Its funny with all the rabbits about they never seem to touch the veg. Then again we do have a cat!

If your rhubarb doesn't get going then see if someone local could dig you up some roots from a Shetland rhubarb plant - they sure are hardy!

Good luck gardening in Shetland! A challenge not for the faint hearted.

[daveh]

Thanks, Pat. We must be not far from each other in Cunningsburgh so you must also be surrounded by rabbits. We also have a cat and he does go for the little 'uns but there seem to be too many larger ones for him to take on single-handed! The fence and netting I have put up certainly has kept the rabbits out as I've seen some just on the other side of it but my upcoming produce is untouched so far.
I am certainly trying different veggies here to see what I can and cannot grow. I take your point about the rhubarb. I will try and put up a wind barrier and if that doesn't help then I will seek out a friendly, giving neighbour for a crown or two. Being new up here, it takes time to get to know people and the last thing I'd want to do is to start asking for things before I get to know them!
Thanks for the help. I'm off out now to transplant some runner beans to see if they can produce!
Dave

[Pat]

Hi Dave

Ah Cunningsburgh! We'll no let on to these nort folk that the sun aye shines here. If you need rhubarb I have plenty goin spare. We can never use all we have. Let me know.

Not too sure about the runner beans though - like leeks I've never had success with them. Worth a try though.

Pat

[daveh]

I might get back to you on the rhubarb offer so thanks for the offer. I'll see how I get on with it for this summer.

As to the runner beans, my first ones were at the foot of a canes wigwam but suffered and died in the breezes. Having put additional fencing and netting in to give at least some protection, I have transplanted out some Prizetaker variety without canes. My idea is to let them get up to just below the level of the netting and then pinch out the tips; thus growing them as bushes. I'll try and rig up some sticks and string to attempt, rather optimistically, to keep the produce off the ground.
As regards leeks, I have planted out approx 150 or so of the Musselburgh variety and put a little cow manure (nice and smelly!) into each hole before dropping the leek into it. In the past, I've had success using 2 to 3 chicken manure pellets for each plant so this is an experiment for me.
I am in Gord, within Cunningsburgh, by the way.
Regards,
Dave

[Pat]

Hi Dave

Ah, I've got you now! No far from me at all. The Shetland grapevine is a truly awesome thing! If it wasn't for the Skoo you could look SE and we could wave to each other!

I'll tell you a peerie story about a house not too far to the south of you when it went on the market many years ago. It was described as the only place that when you grew carrots they actually blew out of the ground with the wind! ;D You'll at least be sheltered from the east I expect.

Gardening in Shetland is a challenge but once you get used to it and if you keep a note of what grows and what doesn't then you'll be surprised at the results.

Onions grow really well here from sets by the way and will store throughout the winter.

If you happen to pop along the Sunday Teas this Sunday at the hall then say hello.

Pat

[benjiesmum]

This was my lettuces a couple of weeks ago - now they have gone to seed!

[Pat]

Must be the same type of seeds I sowed benjiesmum. I took a photo a couple of days ago then left my camera at my youngest sons house!!

By the way we raised £700 from the Sunday Teas for our local history group. Nearly killed me though