Australia is in the middle of a lettuce crisis.
In some stores it's hard to find any of the salad veggie at all. But when you can find lettuce at the supermarket, it is super expensive with prices reaching as high as $12.
This is largely due to the constant heavy rain and flooding we've had this year, but the shortage has arrived at a time when the cost of living in general is increasing, making it hard to justify the cost of lettuce in our weekly shop.
READ MORE: Gardener warns there's one plant you should never grow directly in your garden
Growing lettuce at home is an easy and affordable way to get around this though, and you don't even need a lot of space to do it.
If you start setting yourself up to grow vegetables at home now, you'll be on your way to saving money and being in control of your own supply.
Growing lettuce at home really is as simple as buying a pot, planting some seeds or seedlings and remembering to water consistently.
If you budget about $30 for one container, $10 for a bag of soil and $5 for a pack of seeds or tray of seedlings, that will cost a total of $45. Once your lettuce is ready to harvest, you'll start reaping the rewards of that budget-friendly investment.
Lettuce has shallow roots so you'll need a wide container that's not too big and is about 20cm across.
This Artevasi Cilindro Pot is 30cm and at $9.50 is an affordable option for growing vegetables at home.
If you've only got a balcony, the Garden Trend Complete Balcony Window Box is a wonderful choice and costs just $29.40.
For those with more cash and a little extra space, raised garden beds like the VegTrug raised herb planter for $218 and the vertical garden planter for $119 are great for growing a bigger crop.
Whatever container you choose, just make sure it has drainage holes to avoid overwatering your lettuce.
For lettuce you'll need a quality potting mix with good drainage and controlled release fertiliser. This will cost you around $10 for a 25L bag.
Make sure you check on the packaging to see what is included in your potting mix. If it doesn't have a wetting agent and fertiliser you will need to add both. This is often the case with cheaper potting mix, so you'll just end up spending as much as you would for a premium variety.
You have two options when it comes to growing lettuce: seeds or seedlings.
Seeds will take longer to grow from germination to harvest than seedlings, which are already showing plenty of growth when you buy them.
Seeds
If you can wait a while for your lettuce to be ready, seeds are a significantly cheaper option.
A packet of Winter Triumph iceberg lettuce seeds from Yates costs just $3.30 and contains 200 seeds. You likely won't even need to use all of them to start with, and if you store the seed packet in a cool dry place you can use the leftover seeds later on.
The winter triumph iceberg lettuce seeds are, as the name suggests, perfect for this time of year as they can be sown in all parts of Australia from autumn to winter.
If you're growing from seed, you can sow directly into your container, but you can also start in a seed raising tray. Just transplant when the lettuce is a few centimetres high.
READ MORE: Here's everything you need to know about the Vegepod
To save cash on buying seed trays and starter pots, you can actually use toilet paper roll tubes cut in half.
To plant seeds, fill your container with soil and use your finger (while wearing gardening gloves) to make shallow holes spaced out according to instructions on the seed packet. You can drop a few seeds in each hole and thin out later if needed.
Seedlings
While seedlings cost a little more, it can sometimes be better to buy this option if you only plan on setting up one or a few containers. Plus, you'll be able to harvest sooner as part of the growing work will already have been done for you.
To plant seedlings, fill your container with potting mix and make a hole deep enough for the lettuce roots to be covered by the soil. Space the seedlings apart based on the instructions provided on the plant tag that comes with your seedling tray.
The information card should also give you an indication of when you can harvest your lettuce.
Then place in a spot that gets part sun and part shade.
READ MORE: Expert tips to clean your yard and bring your garden back to life after heavy rain
Lettuce likes moist soil, but like a lot of plants doesn't like wet feet. You might need to water a couple of times a week depending on the weather, just make sure you use your finger to check whether the top inch has dried out first.
Where there are plants there are bugs. There are plenty of ways to keep on top of bugs and lots of remedies if you have any problems.
The best way to avoid bugs taking over your plants is to keep an eye on them. So whenever you go to water your lettuce, check for signs of snail trails and chomped leaves, as well as bugs like aphids living on the plant.
READ MORE: TikToker's 3 natural slug control hacks will finally get rid of those pesky bugs from your garden
It's good to have a gardening spray on hand to tackle your bug problem at the first sign of infestation. A light spray of something like Yates 750ml Ready To Use Nature's Way Citrus And Ornamental Spray should help.
And now for the fun part when all your hard work pays off, and you can pop your home-grown lettuce on a sandwich or in a salad.
Lettuce leaves are usually ready for harvest once they've grown to about 10cm tall, but see the seed packet or information card from the seedling tray for more details on your specific type.
When you harvest, start collecting your lettuce from the outer leaves, this way the centre of the plant will continue to grow and you'll get more out of it. You can use scissors, shears or your hands to remove leaves.
Some lettuce plants continue to grow after harvesting while others produce one crop and that's it. Read the information that comes with your seeds or seedlings for guidance on this.
Auto news: Uber of the future revealed – drive.com.au
© 2022 Nine Entertainment Co.