Best greens to grow in zone 5?

[CathyA]

I'm buying a food grade poly tank that's 6' long, 2' wide and 1' deep. I'm going to put it up on bales of straw off my deck, (to make it higher), and I want to plant all greens, scallions, radishes, and maybe broccoli in it. I've never had much luck with lettuces/spinach out in my garden. Too many weeds and too hard to lean over to pull them all! So I'm going to have this big/shallow container close to the house this year.
I would like to have a variety of lettuces and spinach. Was wondering what types would do best in central Indiana (zone 5). I love Romaine-types.
Would appreciate hearing about those of you who have had success in my temperature zone with lettuces, and what kinds you grew.
Thanks!

[rodeosweetheart]

I'm buying a food grade poly tank that's 6' long, 2' wide and 1' deep. I'm going to put it up on bales of straw off my deck, (to make it higher), and I want to plant all greens, scallions, radishes, and maybe broccoli in it. I've never had much luck with lettuces/spinach out in my garden. Too many weeds and too hard to lean over to pull them all! So I'm going to have this big/shallow container close to the house this year.
I would like to have a variety of lettuces and spinach. Was wondering what types would do best in central Indiana (zone 5). I love Romaine-types.
Would appreciate hearing about those of you who have had success in my temperature zone with lettuces, and what kinds you grew.
Thanks!


Cathy, that's such a cool idea. I have had good luck with Grand Rapids and with Parris Island lettuce. Also Bibb types. I would think in zone 5 you could grow just about any lettuce or spinach as they are such a short season plant.

[CathyA]

Thanks rodeosweetheart!

[Yarrow]

CathyA, try growing some Buttercrunch lettuce - it is so good. I had success growing it last year in the same zone you're in.

[CathyA]

Thanks Yarrow! Did you grow it from seed or seedling?

[Yarrow]

Seedling.
Makes for a very tasty salad. I plan to grow it every year now.

[CathyA]

Thanks Yarrow.

[CathyA]

Oh....I meant to ask you Yarrow........where do you find seedlings for the buttercrunch? Is it a local nursery near you?

[Yarrow]

You're welcome, CathyA. And yes, I found my seedlings at a local nursery.

I was watching P. Allen Smith's garden show on PBS last year and he recommended Buttercrunch lettuce which is what led me to try it, and I'm glad I did. :)

[CathyA]

Thanks Yarrow. I can't wait to get started............if it would just get above the 20's and 30's!

[cx3]

Hello fellow Hoosier. I know what your saying,I can't wait to get planting either. I'm trying to start some seedlings in the basement.Got some brussels,savoy cabbage,and sweet potatoes started at the moment. My garden spot is almost dry enough to rototill.I don't have any lettuce recommendations,as this will be my first year of really trying to grow lettuce.

[CathyA]

Hi cx3....
Don't know when we can rototill our garden. It's still pretty wet. We went out yesterday and moved our vertical trellises and swingset to different areas in the garden....... That way, even if we can't till the soil for awhile, I can still plant snowpeas on the ends of the swingset. I hope the wren that always builds a nest in the tubes of the swingset isn't too upset that we moved it about 25 feet!

Have you grown sweet potatoes before? I would love to grow some. I think they just vine on the ground, right? (as opposed to potatoes that grow in the ground).
I always have way too many great ideas in the early spring, and then when the weeds get going, I sort of regret some of it. haha
But hey.........for now I'll just enjoy the bliss of ignorance. Hope springs eternal. hahahaha

[Birdie]

I have grown sweet potatoes and we trellised them. If the vines crawl in the ground they can root again which takes nutrients from the original plant. If you don't want to trellis the vines you could mulch to prevent the vines from rooting.

[CathyA]

Thanks Birdie!