Summer lettuces

Lettuce "Freckles"

Certain lettuce varieties can withstand the heat of an Australian summer better than others. My first choice is Eden Seeds' "Freckles" variety. This summer I am also trying a form of Mignonette from Yates called "Buttercrunch"which according to the packet "rarely runs to seed". Keeping  lettuce seeds in the fridge (not freezer) for two days before planting is reputed to lead to quicker germination. Plant lettuce seeds 3mm deep. Keep ground moist for one week until germination occurs. Harvest 8 weeks from sowing seed.   

Endive (Escarole)  flowers

Taking up quite a bit of space in my garden is one plant of a broad leaved form of Endive the French call "Escarole" that I am allowing to flower for the seed. Anita distributed seed to all the gardeners last Autumn and we had  a good supply of leafy greens over the winter from them. However Anita was most perplexed as to why the centers of the Escarole were not pale yellow as she remembers them in France. I have just read in Stephanie Alexander's garden cookbook that in France growers tie the outer leaves together and in the markets the plants are flattened to display the pale hearts of the endive which is the only part used in the salads, the outer leaves being fed to the chickens. In our innocence we have been eating the whole plant which although slightly bitter tasted quite palatable with a salad dressing. Next autumn, if I manage to collect seed, I will try the French method of cultivation.