Grow a few lettuces that can handle the heat

Published 11:36 am Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Lettuces prefer mild temperatures, which is the reason we can grow them nearly year-round in Western Washington. Many don’t tolerate the hot, dry temperatures, the sort of weather we’re experience today. Keeping greens well-watered and harvesting a few outer leaves can stave off bolting and bitterness. I grow some of my lettuces in containers, which I move into shadier areas during the scorching weather.

You also can choose lettuces that handle heat better. The Cook’s Garden sells a seed mix of heat-tolerant lettuces. Many do well and taste great but here are a few of my favorites:

Buttercrunch: This butterhead lettuce stays sweet in the heat.

Tom Thumb: Cute, tasty mini-butterhead lettuce.

Drunken Woman Frizzy Headed: I can only guess how this one got its name but frizzy head can handle the heat.

Nevada: A Batavia-type lettuce with thick, lime green leaves. If it can hack it in Nevada, it can handle it here.

Capistrano: A romaine lettuce with upright leaves that seems to handle heat better than other romaine.