Lettuce stump propagation

 Yesterday morning I lifted a lettuce, on passing the compost heap (ouch) I
dropped off the rough outers and the chopped stump.

I guy on a neighbouring allotment, showed me his experiment with lettuces.
In addition to sowing fresh seed for continuity, he is also propagating by
leaving the old stump in the ground. The taller plants, furthest from the
camera, are his earliest cuttings:-
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd220/BertieDoe/IMG_2227.jpg

As you can see, new leaves are sprouting from the East side of the stump:-
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd220/BertieDoe/IMG_2226.jpg

Q. Has anyone else tried this? Did the lettuce run-to-seed, become exhausted
or form perfect plants? This particular variety is 'Little Gem'
I guess only time will tell - I'll report back later in the season if
un/successful. TIA
Bertie

 

Very interesting!
I do the same with cabbages and cauli and always have "spring greens",
later in the year, almost as good as the real thing. A good thing if you
have a small garden. A very good source of vitamins in all cases when the
outer leaves of a cabbage or cauli has toughened up and can't use. Just go
back and use some previously cropped ones which have restarted a bit of
growth.

BTW Little Gem is my choice too and can never get them to coincide with my
toms, beetroot or cucumber, garlic(the salad I like)

Baz

 




Thanks for that Baz. When you leave a stump of cabbage or cauli, do you
leave an old leaf on the stump?

With lettuce, may neighbour leaves a clean cut. TIA

Bertie

 
With cabbage you clean the stump and cut a cross in the top this helps
to direct to the top buds, you will get greens, but if you leave then
you will only get flowering stems, the same with lettuce, you will
never get a lettuce that will heart from side shoots.

 

"Dave Hill"  wrote in message


Thanks Dave, I'll pass the news to my neighbour.