On the recommendation from the folks at Johnny’s Selected Seeds, I was convinced to try this variety of lettuce 2 or 3 years ago. They commented that this was one of their most popular and best tasting lettuces they sold, so I tried it. Our family loved it, and so did those customers I grew it for. In fact, it’s become my most requested lettuce of the growing season. It’s a variety called Skyphos. It’s not a warm-weather lettuce so it won’t do well in the middle of summer. But it’s easily grown in spring and fall. As is typical with the square foot gardening method, there will be four heads of lettuce per square. This was not planted with transplants or sprouted seeds. This was part of the original test to see if I could grow this in what has now been described as the coldest January in Salt Lake City in 50+ years. It was directly-seeded right into the soil. It’s grown a little slower than I would’ve liked, but that’s to be expected with hot cold it’s been. Six weeks away for this to be ready. JSS has a brand new variety of lettuce this year that’s supposed to be even better-something called Salanova. I’ve got my seeds ready to plant with that go for in a few days.[ois skin=”below post”]
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Thanks Jim, for an inspiring presentation yesterday at the Draper Library.
My passion for gardening has been life long. I have only explored it as a hobby so far. My career path began in the food science/Human nutrition arena and when I “retired” about 15 years ago into a series of part time positions I began gardening here in Draper, Utah with a focus on Lettuce and cool weather crops. Also, I found the Master Gardener certification program at Thanksgiving point a wonderful opportunity to learn more about this climate (I am originally from north eastern states) and meet others like myself. I am compelled to try your hooped row covered system to grow some cool weather crops this coming winter. The challenge for me is in working with a small yard. The area I have available is 10 x 10. Here’s my thought: Perhaps other small space gardeners would be interested in joining me in a project to develop a winter garden in a small space and economically to boot! I will look forward to more presentations from you on this maybe in July or August. In the meantime, I have my Johnney’s catalog open and ear-marked with some of the crops you mentioned yesterday to try out this fall. Thanks again.
Go Lisa! I forgot if you told me you’re a square foot gardner? If so, that 10X10′ space would be a great place to start. I know what you mean about other small space gardeners getting together on a plot of land to garden. I did that one time, and one time only. It was great in the beginning but by July I was the only person working the plots so I’ll not be doing that again. Besides, I’ve got my hands full with mine. You’ll discover very early on that the taste of this food is superior to products you buy at the grocer. It’s like I said in class-this will ruin a few things for you, including buying things at the store. I know all about the MG program at TP. I don’t do it for only one reason-you don’t need to be a MG’er to have a fantastic garden. In fact, because MG’s are so smart, they often times overthink things and make things more complex than they need to be. Not necessary in the SFG system. The presentation you heard will be the exact same thing in July. Draper did this too early. The other class I teach is the SFG system. That is 100% SFG with nothing about protection or crop selection. But you learn the basics of how to have a really great garden because I run it like a workshop. You leave here and things are cemented in your mind….see you around…Jim
As good as your blog is you’re an even better instructor. We took one of your workshop classes last spring and put all of the things we learned to work during the summer and fall. It was the best garden we’ve ever had in 25 years! Thank you so much for providing a way for us to feed our family and do it at a much lower cost than buying items at the store. You’re a fantastic teacher! I’ve been to Thanksgiving Point and taken a class there but there was no substitute for your class, and better yet, the hands-on workshop was the bomb! We’ll be taking your winter class harvest next year. Thanks again, Gene and Peggy Crump
Gene and Peggy-thank you very much. Just keep in touch on my blog and facebook page for upcoming class announcements. I don’t actually have a winter garden/harvest class. I think the class you’re talking about is the low or high tunnel classes which start in late July and run until Labor Day weekend. That’s where I teach you how to grow so that you can harvest through the winter. In our zone I don’t really think there is any such thing as winter gardening. It’s just too cold. Look forward to seeing you next year.
so glad i found your page! Where do you buy this variety of lettuce from in slc?
Crystal, I buy hardly any of my lettuce seed in SLC. I buy most of it from the Cadillac of seed catalogs-Johnny’s Selected Seeds. It’s got the greatest variety and the absolutely best tasting lettuce you can only find if you’re in the best restaurants in the country. Of course, that’s just my opinion, but I’d be willing to put my lettuce up against any in the country. It’s certainly more expensive and you don’t get the quantity that you would get from a place like Mountain Valley Seeds located right here in SLC. I love that place too and do a lot of business with them. Their the nicest people around and they guarantee everything. And you don’t have to pay for shipping because you can pick it up at 1700 South between 300 adn 400 West. By the way, I’ll be up at a library in your neck of the woods in the next week or so teaching a beginners class on SFG. Maybe you’ll get a chance to make it out. You can find the dates, times, and locations on my website….Jim
I will need to try the Skyphos. Thanks for the post Jim.