World of Flora: 2018

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Fun Experiment to Grow Buttercrunch Lettuce

Summer this year I plant butter-crunch lettuce for the first time. I didn't grow it from the seed but bought the baby plant from Walmart for $1.50. I wanted to know what the issues I would face during my planting.

When I harvested this afternoon, I considered using a cut-and-come-again method by cutting the entire plant at the base and leaving a short stub to re-sprout; or to extend the harvest, I can pick outer leaves first an allow the center leaves to enlarge.

Harvested on Thursday, May 17, 2018

Baby slug was the main problem I faced because too much rain during this week. When flipping the leaves, I saw many baby slugs on the ground. That was why after I cut the entire plant at the base, I left a short stub to re-sprout. Then I washed the leaves in the running water. That is the best way to clean them.

Taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018

Lettuce

lettuce field
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Lactuca
Species:	L. sativa
Binomial name
*Lactuca sativa* L.
Synonyms^[1]^[2]
Lactuca scariola var. sativa (Moris) L. scariola var. integrata (Gren. andGodr.) L. scariola var. integrifolia (G.Beck)

DESCRIPTION

Common Name: Lettuce Buttercrunch
Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa Buttercrunch
Family: Asteraceae

Lettuce Buttercrunch, Lactuca sativa Buttercrunch, : Originating in India during ancient times, lettuce is one of the oldest, most popular salad vegetables. Buttercrunch has dark green tinted, wavy, yellow leaves, with a flattish open but tightly bunched fan-shape to each. Crisp and sweet, with a pleasant buttery taste. The baby leaves are highly rated for salads. A good source of vitamin A and phytonutrients. Slow bolting (running to seed). Enjoys near neutral, rich well drained soil. Whilst heat tolerant, most lettuce dislike very hot conditions and will tolerate some shade. Keep moist during growing period. Seed may be planted at 4 week intervals during the warmer months to provide a succession of this lovely salad vegetable. 70 days.

Sowing Advice

Sow lettuce seed on surface and barely cover during spring summer and autumn. Do not allow seed bed to get really dry. Thin gradually, thinnings may be used in salads. In warmer climates plants may benefit from a few hours of afternoon shade during the hotter summer months. Prefers rich moist, near neutral soils . Consecutive, small plantings will give a continuous crop throughout the warmer months. 70 days.

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Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Fun Experiment to Grow Oyster Mushroom at Home

Tadaaaaaa!

First harvest in 12 days, April 18, 2018

My husband is psychic. He gave me a Christmas gift last year a mushroom growing kit which I really wanted it long time ago. So, this is my first experiment growing oyster mushroom at home. One day I want to have an experiment to grow the button mushroom at home (It will remind me when the first time I grew the button mushroom in the real environment for my research to get my Bachelor Degree in Agriculture in 1993).

I started to grow this oyster mushroom last Friday, April 13, 2018 by soaking the surface of the media overnight. The next day, I just put it near the window so it would get indirect sunlight. In seven days, I saw they began to grow and I could harvest them in 12 days.

Next time I have to wait till summer because they will grow better with temperature at least in 70 degree Fahrenheit.

I will write another post about this growing mushroom when I try to grow it from other side of the box. It's really fun, isn't it?