We are about 5 weeks away from planting the summer vegetable garden and our soil is finally beginning to warm. However, right now is an especially extensive one for the vegetable gardener as it is the "perfect time to plant cool crops. I'm fond of kohlrabi, broccoli and snap peas but my favorite early spring crop is lettuce. With many types to choose from the simple selection of lettuce may become confusing; additionally, our Mid-Atlantic location restricts our choices, to some degree. I will outline the numerous differences below with an emphasis on days to harvest and heat resistance.

Crisphead (Iceberg) types (approximately 70-85 days to harvest from seed)

Head type lettuces dominate U.S. production as they are best adapted for long distance shipping. The long season requirements (days to harvest) are hard to accommodate in our gardens as the early warm temperatures of late spring often cause pre-mature bolting. Additionally the taste of crisphead types are inferior when compared to the looseleaf types.

Batavian or French crisp or Summer crisp types (approximately 50-60 days)

This group is intermediate between butterhead and crisphead. Loose heads form and the most popular commercial variety sold is 'Nevada' (56 days to harvest).

Butterhead types (approximately 60 days)

Boston lettuce falls into this category, small dense heads form and red leaf types exist. The foliage is light with a delicate flavor.

Bibb types (approximately 60 days)

The best known bibb type is 'Buttercrunch', a reasonably good lettuce for us, exhibiting good heat tolerance. A very popular variety is 'Speckles", an Amish heirloom with minute dots of red spread over the leaf surface.

Leaf types (approximately 50-60 days)

Also known as looseleaf or cutting lettuces, these do not grow into leafy heads, rather loose foliage. Very successful as garden plants, some gorgeous red leaf types make beautiful additions in a salad. One of the most beautiful leaf types is 'Galactic', an eye catching burgundy leafed form. Seed is available from Johnny's Select Seeds.

Oak leaf types (approximately 50-60 days)

Distinctive foliage makes this type stand out in the garden and salad bowl. The foliage mimics oak leaves, often marked with red highlights. A successful garden variety for Mid-Atlantic gardeners.

Cos (Romaine) types (approximately 65 days)

Romain types form long, upright, broadly oblong leaves with good cold resistance. It is not uncommon to find hybrids between this type as the cold resistance is frequently passed on. One such hybrid 'Blushed Butter Cos', is a cross using a butterhead type. Additionally dwarf varieties require fewer days to mature which makes them less prone to bolting, 'Little Leprechaun' only requires 56 days to mature. A popular variety named 'Freckles' displays the same beautiful patterning of the well known Amish butterhead-'Speckles'.

Mesclun mix greens

This is a term applied to a blend of fresh tender greens combined for their variety of textures, flavors and colors. Always successful as tolerance to cold and heat aids the gardener, harvests are interspersed with numerous varieties maturing at different times. I filp-flop between a popular blend known as the Napa Valley blend and Piquant mix. The Napa Valley blend contains romaine, oakleaf and endive types. Piquant mix contains mustard, arugula, mizuna and spicy cress, adding a zip to any salad.

After harvesting the numerous lettuce and greens to add to your salad, top it off with leaves and flowers of nasturtiums and flowers of calendula and violas. In the garden leave a few lettuce heads so that they can bolt and flower. The flowers are a popular source of nectar for many beneficial insects and they will protect your garden from invaders such as aphids.