Question About Lettuce

[Delaney]

I know when the temperatures get up there, that lettuce "bolts" and stops producing. I have some yummy mixed lettuce and spinach up that I am just starting to be able to eat. I want to plant some more. It gets pretty warm here in a couple of months (July and Aug). High 90's in the day and 80 at night. If I plant more lettuce, will it be ruined? What if I plant it where it will get a good amount of shade, say next to some pole beans?

[Macky]

That's what's so different about our climates. It's very normal for us to get temps like that during the day, but it always cools at night here. I've only visited climates like yours; I wouldn't want to garden there!

Yes, you can plant lettuce and other greens under shade clothes (http://www.leevalley.com/us/garden/page.aspx?p=10530&cat=2,2030,33143&ap=1) or under taller plants that can provide shade. Just make sure to allow for some airflow still. In my personal experience, oakleaf lettuces are the slowest to bolt in summer.