[If you have ever considered doing this, be sure to have a garden area which receives full sun for at least 8 hours per day. This is essential, especially for Spring plantings.]
- Mix organic compost (and coffee grounds, I am told Starbucks gives them away—I have to check into this) into your soil to ensure proper nutrients. Crushed eggs shells and the coffee grounds also discourage slugs and those pesky roly-poly's!
- Smooth the soil, sprinkle and pat seeds about 1/4 inch deep. Keep moist (not soggy). During high-temperatures, be sure to keep ground moist. This is essential for lettuce plants as the weather gets warmer. You may even need to shade lettuce during summer months.
- When seedlings are about 1-2 inches, thin out the least-hardy-looking ones.
Concerning my lettuce, I will harvest leaves at a time, snipping leaves off when they are about 4-inches tall and then allow them to regrow for future harvests.
I will also harvest "baby carrots" as I enjoy tender bites; I am also convinced this will outsmart my underground rodents — or at least keep more of the harvest for myself!
