We have been growing starts of Kale and Lettuce in a
glasshouse for about 3 weeks. They will be ready for transplant sometime next
week. For those who might be planting Kale or Lettuce there is a chart below
that you might find useful. On that chart, *LFD=Last frost date and *FFD= First
frost date. For Willits, LFD is usually May 15 and FFD is usually October 15.

Kale (Brassica
oleracea var. acephela)

Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)

Temperature:

• For
  germination: 45°F-95°F
• For
  growth: 60°F-65°F

--Soil and Water Needs--

pH: 6.0-7.0

Fertilizer: Heavy feeder, use compost.

Side Dressing: Apply when plants are about one-third grown.

Water: Heavy

--Measurements--

Planting Depth: ½”

Root Depth: 6”-12”

Height: 12”-18”

Breadth: 8”-12”

Space Between Plants:

• In
  beds: 15”-18”
• In
  rows: 18”-24”

Space Between Rows: 24”-46”

--Grow Biointensive Measurements--

Space Between Plants:

• In
  Beds: 15”

Maximum Number of Plants per 100 Square Feet: 84

--Threats and Interactions--

Pests: Aphid, cabbage looper, cabbage maggot, celery
leaftier, diamondback moth, flea beetle, harlequin bug, imported cabbage worm,
Mexican bean beetle, mites, thrips, weevil.

Diseases: Alternaria leaf spot, black leg, clubroot.

Allies: Uncertain: Chamomile, dill, garlic, mint,
nasturtium, rosemary, sage, tansy, (perhaps tomato).

Companions: Artichoke, beet, bush bean, celery, cucumber,
lettuce, onion, peas, potato, spinach.

Incompatibilities: Pole beans, strawberry, (perhaps tomato).

Planting:

First Seed-Starting Date:
(Plant every 10 days in case of poor germination)

Last Seed-Starting Date:

Harvest notes: Harvest younger leaves from the middle and
work your way up the stalk as it grows. Keep some of the leaves on the bottom
to feed growth at the top. You can also harvest the plant all at once by
cutting the stem near the bottom.

Storage Requirements: For fresh storage don’t wash the
leaves. For drying, cut the leaves into strips and steam for 2-5 minutes.
Spread on trays no more than ½” thick, and dry. If using an oven, set the
temperature below 145°F, check and turn every hour. Kale will store at 32°F at
95%-100% humidity for 2-3 weeks. At 32°F to 40°F and 80%-90% humidity it will
store for up to 10 months (with fair taste).

Sources:

Denckla, Tanya., The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing
Organic Food., Storey Publishing © 2003., pp.94-95.

Jeavons, John., How to Grow More Vegetables* 7^th
Edition., Ten Speed Press © 2006., pp. 90-91.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Family: Compositae or Asterceae (Sunflower family)

Temperature:

• For
  germination: 40°F-80°F
• For
  growth: 60°F-65°F

--Soil and Water Needs--

pH: 6.0-7.5

Fertilizer: Heavy feeder.

Side Dressing: Every 2 weeks, apply balanced fertilizer or
foliar spray

Water: Low to medium, heavy in arid climates, water early in
the morning to minimize diseases

--Measurements--

Planting Depth: ¼”-½”

Root Depth: 18”-36”, with 5’ taproot

Height: 6”-12”

Breadth: 6”-12”

Space Between Plants:

• In
  Beds:
  • Head
    Lettuce: 10”-12”
  • Leaf
    Lettuce: 6”-8”
  • Romaine
    Lettuce: 10”
• In
  Rows:12”

Space Between Rows: 14”

--Grow Biointensive Measurements--

Space Between Plants:

• In
  Beds:
  • Head
    Lettuce: 12”
  • Leaf
    Lettuce: 8” in winter and 9” in spring-fall
  • Romaine
    Lettuce: N/A

Maximum Number of Plants per 100 Square Feet:

• Head
  Lettuce: 159
• Leaf
  Lettuce: 320 in winter and 248 in spring-fall
• Romaine
  Lettuce: N/A

--Threats and Interactions--

Pests: Aphid, beet leafhopper, cabbage looper, cutworm,
earwig, flea beetle, garden centipede, leaf miner, millipede, slug, snail

Diseases: Bacterial soft rot, botrytis rot, damping off,
downy mildew, fusarium wilt, lettuce drop, mosaic, pink rot, powdery mildew,
tip burn

Allies: Uncertain: Chive, garlic, radish

Companions: Beet (to head lettuce), all brassicas (except
broccoli), carrot, cucumber, onion family, pole lima bean, strawberry

Incompatibilities: None; some studies have shown lettuce to
be sensitive to plant residues of barley, broccoli, broad bean, vetch, wheat,
rye

Planting:

First Seed-Starting Date:
(Plant every 10 days in case of poor germination)

Last Seed-Starting Date:

Harvest notes:

For leaf lettuce, start picking the leaves when there are at
least five to six mature leaves of usable size. Usable size means about 2” long
for baby lettuce and 5”-6” long for more mature lettuce. Keep picking until a
seed stalk appears or the leaves become bitter. For head lettuce, when the head
feels firm and mature simply cut it off at the soil surface. Harvest all the
lettuce in early morning for the maximum carotene and best taste. Refrigerate
immediately.

Storage Requirements:

Lettuce does not store well for long periods and is best
eaten fresh. At 32°F-40°F at humidity of 80%-90% the storage life of lettuce is
1 month. At 32°F at 98%-100% humidity the storage life is 2-3 weeks.

Sources:

Denckla, Tanya., The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing
Organic Food., Storey Publishing © 2003., pp.97-99.

Jeavons, John., How to Grow More Vegetables* 7^th
Edition., Ten Speed Press © 2006., pp. 90-91.