Lettuce 'Great Lakes'
An heirloom iceberg lettuce variety, first introduced in 1941. Slow to bolt with crunchy, succulent leaves. It's a favourite with gardeners as it grows well in summer when other lettuces shy from the heat and run to seed. Harvest in 11-12 weeks.
The best lettuces are grown fast. Grow them in beds that have just been vacated by peas or beans as all leaf crops, especially lettuce, enjoy plenty of nitrogen. Loose soil with plenty of organic matter will retain moisture and added potash will see them grow without check. Premature bolting and subsequent bitterness is usually the result of stress caused by poor transplanting techniques, damage to their shallow roots, lack of fertilizer or lack of water during hot periods. Mulch well to conserve moisture.