New Leaves

There's nothing more satisfying than newly picked lettuces. This year's mix is a combination of nine different leaf lettuces and kale. Colors range from light green Black Seeded Simpson, deep green Romaine picked as an early leaf, mottled shades of green and red in Rossa di Trento,  the deep deep burgundies of New Red Fire, to the blues of the Dwarf Scotch Curled Kale.  Leaves picked between 3 and 6 inches offer the cleanest purest flavor. Left much longer than that and leaves begin to taste bitter. Picking lettuces often and early also prevents the plants from bolting. Once that happens, pack it up, and begin again because the flavor is lost once the plant sets seed. Throughout Spring and Summer and right into to Autumn, I could eat a fresh salad bowl every day and never tire of the experience. Store bought greens are just not the same. You'll find that your salads when picked fresh need very little dressing- less is more in these salads as you don't want to obscure their flavors. I am always looking for new lettuces so let me know your favorites on the Facebook pages.