Leftover Recipe 4: Maltese Pudding

Maltese bread pudding

Method

Tear some bread slices into pieces;  you may also add some pieces of dry cake/cupcakes etc which you might have left-over.  

Add 4 tbs cocoa, 200g sultanas, 3 tbs brown sugar or to taste,lemon and orange zest, 1tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground cloves, 1 tbs mixed spice, 100g candied lemon peel, 100g glace cherries, 100g pure ground almonds, some pitted dates.  

Mix well and add one cup strong coffee, 3 beaten eggs, 50g melted butter, 2 mugfuls warm water, one glass dry Martini.  Mix well and put mixture in a greased dish and level out.  Add some walnuts on top and sprinkle more cinnamon on top.  Bake in a moderate oven (fan electric 170) for about 45 minutes.  

Once cool add one more dash of Martini.

Leftover Recipe 3 - Courgette and Orange Cake

Courgette and Orange Cake

Ingredients

350g whole courgettes, 200g soft brown sugar, 125ml sunflower oil

3 large eggs lightly beaten, grated zest of 1 orange,1 tsp vanilla extract

100g sultanas, 300g self raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder

for the frosting: 200g full-fat cream cheese, 100g icing sugar sifted, good grating of orange zest

Method

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly oil and line a 1kg loaf tin with a strip of baking parchment. Finely grate the courgettes, then squeeze out as much liquid as you can with your hands (too much will make the cake soggy). Stir the courgettes with the sugar, sunflower oil, eggs, orange zest, vanilla and sultanas, then fold in the flour and baking powder until they disappear, but don’t overmix. Scrape the mixture into the tin and bake for 50 mins until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack. Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese with the icing sugar (don’t overbeat as this can make the mixture too soft), then chill. Spread over the cooled cake, scatter with the zest and chill until ready to serve. Will keep for a week in the fridge.

Leftover Recipe 2: Tomatoe Cake

Tomatoe Cake

Ingredients

1 cup dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup shortening, 2 eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder,

1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp salt, 2 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped ripe tomatoes, 1 cup nut mix.

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 180 F. Grease and flour a 13x9-inch baking pan. In a large bowl, combine the sugar and shortening and mix until creamy. Add the eggs, beating after each. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt. Sift the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture and stir to blend. Add the tomatoes, nuts, dates, and raisins and stir thoroughly. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool.

 

The final result - fluffy sweet cake perfect with afternoon tea!
Many thanks to Crumbs Bakes who cooked this for us :) 

Leftover Recipe 1: Red Wine Biscuits

Red Wine Biscuits Recipe

  

Probably our most loved sweets this Fresher's! Got some leftover cooking wine? Why not try these biscuits! We made them for a mini-campaign on Food Waste which is a huge issue in Malta. These sweets lean over more towards the savory side and have a tangy, spicy taste. These biscuits were done in collaboration with the amazing Crumbs Bakes, who specialize in sustainable but economical food made from fair trade, local and seasonal ingredients!  Check them out on facebook. Enjoy!

Red Wine Biscuits bring all the Freshers to the stand.

Makes 2-1/2 to 3 dozen

Ingredients

2-1/2 cups all purpose flour, 

1/3 cup sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1-1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup dry red wine

coconut oil 

sugar to sprinkle on top

Preparation
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and pepper. Make a well in the center and add the vegetable oil and wine. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate for about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

To form the biscuits, pinch off 1-inch balls of dough and gently roll into a small log about 1/2-inch in diameter. Bring the ends together to form a circle and pinch to close.

Place the formed biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with the coconut oil and sprinkle with sugar on top. Bake for 20 - 30 minutes until solid and slightly crisp on the outside. Note: These cookies do not really brown, so test them after about 15 minutes and time them according to your personal taste.

Cool on wire racks and store in an airtight container.

Greenhouse Malta Opposes Development in ODZ Areas

Greenhouse Malta would like to make it clear that it does not oppose the investment in education. Education is the backbone of any society, and it is essential for the functioning and the prosperity of society. Any investment in education is and will always be welcome.

However the current development at Zonqor point is going to annihilate a grand total of 90,000 square metres. Ecologically speaking, the site hosts different habitats including, garigue, coastal areas and agricultural areas. Furthermore it is home to many different species of flora and fauna, including several birds. Such a development would destroy the little habitat that these species live in.

Another point which has not been stressed enough is that the area of Zonqor point is mostly inaccessible. This means that such a development would also have to include various road networks which would link the University to other areas. This would of course increase the impact of such a project.

The above mentioned factors show that development in Zonqor Point in the form of a University is not sustainable. We expect that this project is held at an alternative site which poses a much smaller harm to the environment.

We are proud to announce that we will be supporting and taking part in a National Protest on the matter on the 20th of June, 10am in Valletta. We urge our members and followers to attend in full force. Mark your attendance and share here.

Why No?

During the past few weeks we have witnessed the birth of both the No and Yes campaigns, against and in favour of spring hunting in Malta. Among a multitude of facebook posts, arguments and lively discussions, there is one point which is a bone of contention:

Why is saying ‘NO’ labeled as negative phrasing?

Perhaps it takes you back to childhood, when the people using the word were your teachers and parents. They said No to you when you were doing something wrong. No was the answer of un-cooperation, unwillingness, or lack of.

However growing up as a female in a male-dominated, traditionalist society, NO to me was always a tool of empowerment.

You said NO if something was not ok, if something was making you uncomfortable. No is not the easy way out. No is not for the complacent, sheepish or mindless. It is a willful decision to oppose something that should not be done, to you or to anyone.

And that is exactly how I feel saying NO to spring hunting. It is not out of hatred, arm twisting or sheer pigheadedness…. for me it is a willful decision to oppose something that is NOT OK.

It is NOT OK to shoot migrating birds on their way to breed

It is NOT OK  to bully others into accommodating your selfish wants

It is NOT OK to spread misinformation and fear

It is NOT OK to threaten and ridicule others, while playing the victim

It is NOT OK to hide the truth, because the truth is not pretty

On the 11^th April, you decide what to vote. It is your right, empower yourself, now!

Elena

Why the bridge linking Malta to Gozo is a terrible idea - Opinion Article

I’d like to start this off by pointing out that Malta has a limited budget. We can spend a given amount of money and use this money for a given amount of projects. I'm saying this because a billion euros minimum is a hell of a lot of money for Malta, meaning that if it were to finance the bridge, for both option 1 and option 2 of the project, the Maltese government would have a lot less money to spend on other valid projects.

Now let me make it clear I’m not a Gozitan and I don’t have to catch the ferry frequently. I do understand the frustration coming from Gozitans though. Gozitans do deserve a better service but a bridge won’t solve the problem.

Imagine getting stuck in traffic every day during the rush hour while trying to get home. Now anyone who doesn’t walk to work or school experiences this. Now imagine getting stuck in traffic from the centre of Malta till Mellieha and add to that nearly 9km of road. Great isn’t it? 

There will probably be more cars in Malta since thousands of Gozitans will be commuting daily to the motherland. Now I don’t know how long it would take for a Gozitan to get home, but I’m sure it would be a very long ride.

1 billion euros for that! Problem solved. Now imagine a different system, a cheaper and less polluting system. A system where you can take a short commute to Valletta, and catch a fast and frequent catamaran to Gozo. I’d reckon it would be much faster than having to cross the congested island by car, whilst also costing much less. Also people who live on the North of the island can catch a fast and frequent catamaran too from Cirkewwa.

Apart from that the bridge itself would be an eyesore. A tunnel could be a solution for this problem if it wouldn’t end up costing so much more than an already very expensive bridge, however construction would definitely lead to a huge increase in water turbidity, which is very detrimental to the sea's natural biota. The bridge would also turn Gozo into a single ‘blokka tal-konrit’, since it would now be so easy to develop as a mere extension of Mellieha.

All in all I feel as though we can invest our money elsewhere. A fast and frequent catamaran to Valletta is just so much cheaper and probably more effective than a bridge. Sometimes simple solutions work best.  

More info here

Marc'Andrea

The master finished with a line..

“The Master fished with a line, but not with a net; when shooting he did not aim at a resting bird”

Confucius, The Analects, Book 7 (VII) Chapter 26 (XXVI), Dover Thrift Editions, 1995

While reading The Analects for my own personal enjoyment I came across this gem, indeed I came across many but this particular one made me think of Greenhouse and our own mission. Although like many Greenies I’m vegetarian and so I do no catch my own food myself (I may be prone to picking the occasional fruit however), this statement, written many Many MANY years ago reflects an attitude of consciousness with which today we are struggling with.

I have mentioned that I do not catch my own food, in this industrialized world, a few percentage of the world does. It would be better if we did, because then at least we cannot fake that we do not know where it came from.

This phrase, which constitutes a whole chapter of the Analects- as the book is made up of sayings of Confucius and his disciples- ironically sums up in at least the attitude two of our major projects at the moment. The third being the EndEcocide project which is broader although it fits with the saying.

The Master fished with a line, but not with a net

Greenhouse Malta forms part of the fish4tomorrow coalition which apart from Greenhouse consists of Sharklab Malta, GetupStandup and Din l-Art Ħelwa. This coalition works towards implementation and awareness raising on sustainable seafood. Together we have produced a short video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3TicdB8s7A  to introduce the issue. We have compiled a study and are currently working on a website and a seafood guide. Get to know more on the issue here 

When shooting he did not aim at a resting bird

Currently in Malta, this could be applied to mating birds. Spring is the time when nature is alive, where most of the events happen. This is the time when birds catch a breath some breath and repopulate as well as migrate. Spring Hunting makes no sense, even for the hunters, because if the numbers go down in spring, they will go down not only that year but for many years to come. And if this barbaric practice is kept up for many years, do the math and the number will be somewhat close to 0, 0 birds in the sky that is. CASH- the Coalition against spring Hunting which at the moment consists of, apart from Greenhouse, Alternattiva Demokratika, Birdlife Malta, Coalition for Animal Rights, Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Gaia Foundation, Moviment Graffiti,  Nature Trust (Malta) and the Ramblers Association of Malta is actively working to abolish spring hunting and are collecting signatures to hold a referendum. Greenhouse is also collecting signatures on their behalf and whoever wants to add their own, please contact us on our email 

The third ongoing project which we are part of is EndEcocide in Europe. This group is working through an European citizen’s initiative (ECI) to make ecocide- that is the extensive destruction of ecosystems- illegal in Europe and this could also have impact apart from the EU. Greenhouse has been translating the website into Maltese (should you notice any spelling mistakes, do let us know!!) and helping spreading the word. In the future we hope to hold an informative event on the subject- any expressions of interest for the event or anyone willing to help should send an email. For more information visit the website 

In the end, what these projects and others that we are involved in such as the Animal Rights Coalition, have in common is the attitude of care and being conscious of what is going on and acting in reaction to it. Signing or joining in any or all of these causes, will not take you much time, but will definitely leave an impact. For anyone that has some time to spare, I also suggest you grab a copy and read the Analects- it is one of those books that will sometimes make you go ‘huh?’, sometimes make you go “I knew that!” and sometimes will leave you to ponder on something for a day.

Adieu for now! I will leave you with this very flattering image of Confucius.

Marthese

Greenhouse Malta

Happy International Permaculture Day

Today is International Permaculture Day, and the Greenhouse team are celebrating with a new blog post. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly Permaculture is, or if you’d like to learn about Permaculture practices and volunteering opportunities here in Malta, read on!

What is Permaculture?

Permaculture is sometimes thought of as a method of farming, but it is in fact a holistic philosophy. Bill Molison, the founder of the Permaculture movement defines it as:
“The study of the design of those sustainable or enduring systems that support human society, both agricultural & intellectual, traditional & scientific, architectural, financial & legal. It is the study of integrated systems, for the purpose of better design & application of such systems.”

Permaculture was developed in Australia in the 1970s by Bill Molison and David Holmgreen. Mollison spent years studying the natural ecosystems of his vast native land and came to realise that organisms naturally form mutually beneficial communities when left to their own devices. Why, then, do we find it normal to grow food crops in monocultural decontextualized crop rows, resorting to ever more environmentally destructive ways to sustain this artificial situation?

Where conventional agriculture seeks to pit man against nature, to chauvinistically tame the natural environment and make it serve us to its own detriment, permaculture works with nature, “looking at systems in all their functions rather than asking only one yield of them.” (Mollison)

At its heart Permaculture describes a symbiotic relationship in which all elements in a system interact productively to supply each other’s needs. Permaculture principles can be implemented on any scale and in any context from Spanish ‘ecoaldeas’ to the rocky hills of Bahrija, or even at home with your family. 

Permaculture in Malta

You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that Permaculture has been embraced by several inspiring and forward-thinking Maltese individuals. Greenhouse Projects Manager Sarah and myself were fortunate enough to spend time on two very different dedicated Permaculture facilities here in Malta – Bahrija Oasis and Dar Frate Jacoba in Marsaskala. 

Bahrija Oasis

Peppi Gauci’s Bahrija Oasis is perhaps the best-known local instance of Permaculture farming. Peppi works tirelessly not only to cultivate his rocky land but also to educate the public about the benefits of Permaculture and sustainable living, working with enthusiastic volunteers from the community and even running formal courses in Permaculture practices. 

We spent two enjoyable days helping to build wicking beds, a Permaculture mainstay. In this system, crops are planted in repurposed containers layered with small rocks, cardboard, compost, soil and mulch. Water is poured through a pipe to gather around the stones at the bottom layer. The roots of the plants draw on the water, which does not evaporate as in conventional crop watering because it is kept underground. This is ideal in a place like Malta, where water is so scarce and precious. 

lovely smiling faces 

working hard
(credit to Greta Muscat Azzoppardi for providing pictures of the girls)

the view from Bahrija Oasis

the finished Wicking Beds

Dar Frate Jacoba

Dar Frate Jacoba is a very different Permaculture project on the local scene. Run by Franciscan Friars, this small farm is principally concerned with helping vulnerable people on the fringes of Maltese society. Young people who are suffering from family and other social problems are referred by Apogg and benefit enormously from the therapeutic effects of working the farm and living in a balanced and compassionate environment.

fields at Dar Frate Jacoba

Fr Mark Ciantar showed us around his facility and thoughtfully answered all questions, showing great passion and knowledge. Admiring the impressive crops raised without use of pesticides, I asked how the community deals with pests. Fr Mark pointed out that what conventional agriculture may consider pests are actually a part of the natural ecosystem. When we destroy so-called pests, we destroy with them the systems plants need to survive. For me this really drove home the paradigm shift we need to make as a society in order to embrace less environmentally and personally destructive methods of food production. Conventional farmers lace our vegetables with poison and destroy ecosystems – who is the real pest in this scenario? 


After many years of hard work, the Dar Frate Jacoba farm is self-sufficient – the inhabitants no longer have to buy food from outside. However, the real success story is the invaluable opportunity for personal growth and character development that this facility offers to troubled youth.

livestock at Dar Frate Jacoba

Get involved

Bahrija Oasis are currently looking for volunteers to dedicate one weekend each month between May and October, starting 18-19 May. Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn about Permaculture and get hands-on experience developing systems such as aquaponics and wicking beds, not to mention spending time in the beautiful Maltese countryside enjoying the company of interesting and inspiring people. If this interests you, get in touch by contacting permaculture.malta@gmail.com
You can also visit the Permaculture Malta website to learn more about other initiatives and courses:

If you would like to volunteer at Dar Frate Jacoba, contact youthalivefoundation@gmail.com or call 20995249. 
The Dar Frate Jacoba project is mostly supported by the tireless work of volunteers and public donations are crucial to its continued existence. If you’d like to offer material support, donations can be made to the following account numbers:
Banif: 50067181, BOV: 40021015953, HSBC: 049013642001, APS: 20000820511

By Felicity Goodwin, Greenhouse Malta

What's Green Lately..

The past month has been quite busy for us green bees!

On the 22nd we took part in Organisation’s Week, held by KSU. This was held at the UOM quadrangle where we put up a stand for the day. The stand was themed Ethical Living, giving any visitors to our stand a peek of how small changes in their lifestyle can result in more ethical consumerism and overall living. 

We had items from Cruelty-Free Malta, which are certified not tested on animals, products from L-Arka, the only fair trade shop in Malta; upcycled art from Create Hope and some delicious sweets made by your very own greenies. We were also promoting a Greenhouse Malta project, fish4tomorrow. This project is currently tackling fishing and fish consumption - promoting sustainable practices to fishermen, fish mongers and the consumer.

some of us

We also had available on the stand a list of charity and/or ethical shop addresses. These will be uploaded onto our group shortly.

The 22nd also happened to be World Water day. We have published two articles related to the topic, one on zuntier, and one on our blogpost

The next day (23rd) was Earth Hour, in which Greenhouse held an event at the cozy tal-Ingliż Tea Room in Triq il-Ganċ, Valletta. This event was meant to be a time to relax for members and the general public while allowing them to switch off their own homes. People gathered at the venue around 8pm to enjoy a lovely hour of live acoustic music which  was generously provided for free by singer Valerie Galea and guitarist Matthew Muscat Drago between 8:30 and 9:30.

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The area outside l-Ingliz was adorned with candles, so that external lights could be switched off, with the cooperation of the owners who kindly allowed us to carry out the event there. Candles were also lit inside to reduce some of the inside lights. Although not everything was switched off (for example refrigerators could not be switched off for obvious reasons)  this event allowed for people to all be gathered in one place, reducing electrical usage in their personal homes.

We hope that events such as these will inspire everyone present to reconsider everyday activities and see where improvements can be made to achieve a more sustainable and ethical lifestyle, which for the most part results in also saving money! Think about it.

Stay Green,

Greenhouse Malta

ps. Greenhouse Malta now has it's very own page! Like us to keep yourself updated with events and interesting material!

A step forward

Today, 11th March marks the day in which new animal-tested products are finally being banned from the EU. The details of the directive are outlined here. We hope that the current and future governments will follow regulations and not allow cosmetic companies to fool us through loopholes. If you want to make sure that you buy cruelty-free items, Cruelty-free Malta has a website selling items that are certified cruelty-free. You can also like her facebook page. Select products will be sold on our stand at Uni on the 22nd, event page here. 

We have taken some comments from the person responsible for Cruelty Free Malta herself, Fiona Vella and our very own Animal Rights Coalition representative, Francesca Saliba, who has been indispensable in our plight against animal cruelty, raising awareness on animal-related issues and setting up events, as well as being an active member of our executive team.

'Today is a day worth remembering' said Fiona Vella from Cruelty Free Malta, because a ban from animal cruelty cosmetics was finalised after so many years. 'The Cosmetics Directive foresees a regulatory framework with the aim of phasing out animal testing. It establishes a prohibition to test finished cosmetic products and cosmetic ingredients on animals (testing ban), and a prohibition to market in the European Community, finished cosmetic products and ingredients included in cosmetic products which were tested on animals (marketing ban)', as stated by the EU Commission.

Animal experimentation is an unjust act on living creatures to get a product or test its compound for human gain. At least Europe made a leap forward with this legislation, which is worth celebrating. This ban will not only affect beauty products but also toiletries, soaps, toothpastes etc. Cruelty Free International is the global campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics. However it can go beyond Europe. They are calling on ' governments and regulators around the world to introduce a ban on the testing of animals for cosmetic products and ingredients. - See more

It is also important to know that animal tested products are used for household goods like washing liquids, detergents, and most importantly biological research. 'Nowadays, There are many alternatives, to choose cruelty free products and supporting the leaping bunny sign labeled on a product which justifies no use of animal experimentation' said Francesca Saliba from Greenhouse Malta. Let us help support this cause for these voiceless creatures and help Malta be more aware and wise when choosing products.

We hope that this is only the beginning of a future where animals are treated with the respect they deserve. Do your part. Choose cruelty-free and spread the word!

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Nature walk and Bahrija Oasis Site Visit

Greenhouse is very proud to present our next event: A nature walk organised by Ramblers Malta followed by a site visit at Baħrija Oasis! For those of you who have attended last year, we will be following a different trail this time.

We will be meeting next Saturday, 20th October at 1pm in front of the Baħrija Church and heading off for a walk organised by Ramblers into the wonderful Baħrija countryside.

The walk will end at Baħrija Oasis where we will be given a short tour and some information about the principles of permaculture and the function of the site.

Last but not least we settle down for a picnic with some good food and drink :) If anyone wishes to bring any along for sharing you are more than welcome, especially if you come bearing vegetarian or vegan food! ;)

We are only asking for a 5eur fee for the Baħrija site visit. Any donations are welcome. If you are interested in attending, confirm your attendance through our facebook event and preferably drop us a line via email or sms 79649802.

See you there!

Greenhouse Members

How to.... Grow Your Own Carrots

How to grow carrots

Growing your own carrots is simple as long as you prepare the soil and take good care of the seedlings. Following is a step-by-step guide on how to grow this veg for yourself, enjoy it and save some money from your weekly grocery shopping

what your lovely mature carrots will look like :)

Preparation

A sunny spot is ideal for growing carrots. Once the spot is chosen, you should break up the clods of soil to create an aerated structure, removing large stones as you go along. Heavy, compact soil will make it difficult for the seedlings to grow strong long roots.

Manure shouldn’t be added to soil reserved for growing carrots. The nutrients in it are too much for them, a small amount of general fertilizer applied a week before sowing is enough. If the preparation is carried out beforehand, carrots will be ready for planting in March.

Sowing

Just before spreading the seeds, the soil should be raked over until it forms ‘tilth’ – crumbly fine soil. Mark a row with a twine or spade to create a 2cm-deep furrow. Seeds should be sown thinly – around one or two seeds each 2 or 3cm. then cover up the seeds and firm the row gently. If the weather has been dry a light watering can be given. Rows should be spaced 15cm apart.

tip : if you are as butter-fingered as I am, it’s best if you pour some seeds into your hand instead of sowing directly from the bag. Sparse sowing is essential to avoid too much thinning out later, as the scent of bruised leaves will attract pests.

Crop carrots take between 10 and 16 weeks to mature. For an early harvest, many gardeners sow fast-maturing carrots simultaneously with their main crop. Sowing them in alternate, labelled rows will make them easy to identify.

Thinning

Carrot seedlings sprout 2-3 weeks after sowing. Once they’re big enough to handle safely, weaker seedlings should be removed. When thinning carrot plants, great care must be taken not to bruise or break the leaved and stalks. This is because the carrotfly, a pest to the carrot, is attracted to the crop by the smell of bruised leaves. The discarded plants should be burnt or buried straight after removal.

tip: Some gardeners recommend thinning in the evening to reduce the incidence of the carrot fly. Firming and watering of the remaining seedlings is also said to reduce the incidence of this pest. Leaving 5-8cm between the remaining seedlings is ideal for healthy growth. Regular watering and hoeing down between the rows will keep the plants pest-free and healthy.

Stopping flies

Another pesticide-free control against carrot flies is using fine netting to cover the seedlings and the soil next to them. The carrot fly is around 1cm long, and fine netting will reduce the chance of it being able to lay its eggs in the soil around the carrot. Fly larvae hatch underneath the soil surface and feed on the carrots, resulting in a depleted or low-quality crop. Grass and leaf mulch may also deter the flies as it makes laying eggs in the soil harder.

Taking care of & harvesting young carrots

Early carrots are reading for harvesting 7-10 weeks after sowing. A tell-tale sign that shows carrots are ready for pulling is that the foliage will begin to wither. In time the average gardener will get used to the timing of different varieties and can also enjoy the crop when it’s slightly immature. You can always experiment by pulling up a few ;). In the weeks before harvesting the soil should be left moist at all times with regular watering. Evening harvestings are ideal to reduce the incidence of the fly… and it’s best to flatten the soil and water it just after harvesting. For further info, click here.. and also some lovely carrot-based recipes can be found here.

Adapted from Step by Step - How to Grow Carrots

How to...... Grow Your Own Lettuce

Lettuce Love

Nothing beats walking into your garden and picking fresh veg to instantly make a beautiful salad! Growing lettuce is much easier than you might think, if you follow these little tips ! It takes between 40 and 80 days (depending on the type of lettuce) to grow from seed to salad, so start sowing for a late fall harvest!

:3

Planting

Lettuce like cooler temperatures (between 40F and 60F). In warm

climates such as Malta, lettuce usually thrives until temperatures of

80F. Therefore you can either plant in late summer (for a fall harvest)

or early spring (for an early summer harvest).

Tilling the soil before sowing is recommended since lettuce seeds are

tiny and will thrive better in soft, weed-free soil.

Scattering of seeds should be done with around ten seeds per square

foot, and it’s usually best to plant them in rows – they look nice and are

also easier to maintain. After scattering, the seeds should be covered

with a thin layer of soil and watered immediately.

The first seedlings sprout in 7 to 10 days. After the first couple of weeks

(when lettuce plantlets are around 2 inches high) it’s best to thin them

out to allow around eight inches of space between each plant. 

Watering

Since lettuce have shallow roots, it’s important to keep the soil around

them moist but not soggy. Frequent, short watering periods will

produce a high-quality lettuce

be careful not to water the plant by wetting the leaves .. 

they get more susceptible to mould and can also be broken or turn spotted!

Looking after your lettuce

Slugs are more than happy to feast on succulent lettuce, so keeping this in mind, put up your defences before the massacre starts! Non-chemical strategies include surrounding plants with grit or protecting them with serrated rings cut from larger plastic bottles. Alternatively, you can try luring your enemies away from the plants by making a slug trap. Saw a plastic water bottle in two just below the neck. Invert the neck end, push it back into the other piece and fix with staples or tape. Fill this contraption with beer or a sweet drink and place it near your crop.

ta-da!

   Harvesting

When the lettuce has reached its ideal size, remember to pick it as early as possible. The longer the leaves, the more bitter and tough it will be.

Make sure you start now before it gets too chilly, or wait until next spring, so that a couple of months later you will have an unlimited supply of fresh salad veg in your garden!

Adapted from SheKnows Home & Garden Site