How to Give a Living Lettuce Garden as a Gift.

Give a thoughtful gift of healthy baby greens. This easy-to-make container garden will provide home grown lettuce for weeks of daily harvesting.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A growing container, I prefer an oblong galvanized pale with sturdy handles.
• A drill with 1/4 inch bit.
• Masking tape.
• Good quality potting soil.
• Several varieties of lettuce seedlings or starts.
• A pair of clean scissors with a piece of twine or ribbon.

1. Once you've selected your container, at least 14 inches is ideal, you'll need to drill drainage holes. Turn the vessel upside down and use your masking tape to mark 4-6 holes (more drainage holes for a bigger pot). The masking tape will keep the drill from slipping and it will keep the container from chipping.
2. Use your drill with the 1/4 inch bit to drill through the masking tape. Apply firm pressure but don't put all of your weight on the drill, let the drill do the work. Then remove the masking tape from your newly made drainage holes.
3. Fill the container with potting soil. Pat lightly, keeping the soil level 2 inches below the rim.
4. Plant the plugs of your lettuce and greens 2-3 inches apart. The soil should be soft enough to dig with your fingers. Tease the roots, just a little before you plug them in. Plant right up to the edge so some of the plants will hang over as they fill in.
5. Water thoroughly, but not enough to saturate. Then tie the scissors onto the handle with instructions: Keep me in a sunny window or outside in a cool, sunny location. Keep soil moist but not saturated. Harvest every day, only cutting away the outer leaves of each plant.

Tips & Warnings

• Varieties of lettuce or greens you can include: Spinach, Kale, Mustard, Endive, Mesclun, Arugula, Radicchio, Chervil, Chard, Romaine, and loose leaf lettuce.
• Look for colorful varieties to make the garden more interesting (Red Fire, Gold Rush, Red Sails).
• You can also use a basket as a container, lined with plastic.
• Lettuce is easy to start from seed. You'll save money and find more varieties if you grow your own plugs.
• Protect furniture with a plate or saucer to catch any moisture from the bottom of the pot.