The variety of salad leaves available is quite astounding, although locally there are less, there are still great 'mixed leaves' seed packets. Included in the selection available in Iceland are seed mats. These are circular pieces of a sort of blotting paper with the seeds embedded. This gives the learner gardener a sure fire way of planting - simply pop the paper on top of a pot of compost and cover with the recommended amount of compost on top. These mats are more expensive, but if you're unsure of your skills its a great starter.
You can also purchase 'plugs' of lettuces for you to replant. Lollo Rosso being one of my favourites. These produce great cut-and-come-again lettuces. I recommend buying 5 or more, then you just cut a leaf or two off of these for each meal and can afford to harvest daily. As I am a salad lover and like to have some fresh green accompanying most dishes this season I had 8 individual cut and come agains plus at least 4 pots of mixed leaves at all times.
Rocket plants are also available in the mixed leaf packs with their own rocket selections. I added to these with some 'true' rocket plants which I swapped with a friend, Klara for some other surplus plants. Rocket is particularly hardy as a lettuce and will last longer outdoors than lighter green leaves. I harvested some from the garden only this weekend.
There are also quite a few 'winter' lettuces to grow in a cold frame slash unheated greenhouse. They are called winter from a UK perspective, so I am adapting that to mean late autumn slash pre frost winter here. I have 2 types which I am sowing now, Cos 'Winter Gem' and Cos 'Winter Density'. These are the small tight crisp lettuces which are sweet and crunchy. I'll get back to you on how late through the season they keep going.
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