Use That Herb

If you missed planting lettuce last month, you still have time to toss out some seeds for a great crop of Winter Lettuce.

In our temperate zone in Pennsylvania there are some months when we can’t get fresh garden veggies, so any time that we can extend the growing season is worth the effort.

Have you seen what lettuce in the grocery stores looks like during winter? It’s not usually something that I want to spend my money on. We only see small heads that are quite expensive given their size and their quality.

We really enjoy having fresh salads with ingredients pulled or cut right from the garden out front. It just makes sense for us to grow our own and we encourage any salad-lover to do the same.

Here’s all you have to do to grow your own Winter Lettuce:

1. Turn over or dig up a small patch of garden for your lettuce patch.
2. Smooth out the surface with a rake or even your hands if it’s a small patch.
3. Toss small handfuls of mixed lettuce seed over the prepared area.
4. Step on the prepared area lightly to “plant” the seed.
5. Water the lettuce patch lightly.
6. Watch the weather forecast for freeze warnings.
7. Use a sheet or old curtain to cover the lettuce patch entirely before freezing weather is predicted.
8. Weigh down the corners of the cloth with hand-sized rocks, pieces of wood, or other heavier objects so the cover doesn’t blow away in the wind.
9. Watch the cover over the coming weeks and re-cover the lettuce if it’s been disturbed.

That’s it! If the beginning of winter is mild, you might even be able to enjoy some baby cut lettuce before the year is out!

Leaf Skeletons Evidence Beetle Damage

Every time we see Japanese Beetles on plants around here the leaves appear to have similar damage regardless of what plant serves as their perch.

I’m not sure what makes the fleshy green parts of a leaf taste “good” to a beetle, but that’s definitely their preference, if it comes down to that.

Maybe their mouth parts can’t handle the structure of the leaf ribs or maybe the stemmy parts don’t have the right flavor – can beetles taste their food and do they have a tongue? So many questions, so little time!

By skeletonizing we mean all the fleshy green parts of a leaf are eaten and the ribs remain. Only the shape of the leaf or outlined structure is left intact and the remainder of the leaves turn brown.

Damage by Japanese Beetles extends to blackberry, basil, cherry, purple cone flowers, roses, and many others.

How To Get Rid of Japanese Beetles

Get rid of Japanese beetles by knocking them off their perch into a pail of soapy water.

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