Thyme fills in between the pink limestone paths that weave throughout the garden. I plan to do a post on the pathways and how Ted and I “mined” the local stone. Plants that carpet the ground are my favorites. And thymes not only carpet but add amazing scent. But, this post is about lettuce. Years ago I started lettuce inside and every year I let at least 2 plants of 5 varieties set seed. In the spring, while I can still identify the lettuce I tag the plants I plan to let go to seed. After the lettuces go to seed they get to look alike. Every spring I have a huge volunteer crop of lettuce. They are healthier and stronger than any I start from seed indoors. We get two oak leaf varieties, a red and a green. We get rouge d’hiver, which is a red lettuce, a small romaine,I think it was Little Jim and a butter crunch type of lettuce. Perhaps this year I will take some different varieties and sow them about the time my faithful and true volunteers are sprouting. The thyme in this picture is Lavender Creeping Thyme. (thymus preacox skorpilii) I purchased it many springs ago in Colorado. I have divided and planted this thyme throughout the garden. It loves it here.Lettuce and Thyme Ground Covers
Thyme fills in between the pink limestone paths that weave throughout the garden. I plan to do a post on the pathways and how Ted and I “mined” the local stone. Plants that carpet the ground are my favorites. And thymes not only carpet but add amazing scent. But, this post is about lettuce. Years ago I started lettuce inside and every year I let at least 2 plants of 5 varieties set seed. In the spring, while I can still identify the lettuce I tag the plants I plan to let go to seed. After the lettuces go to seed they get to look alike. Every spring I have a huge volunteer crop of lettuce. They are healthier and stronger than any I start from seed indoors. We get two oak leaf varieties, a red and a green. We get rouge d’hiver, which is a red lettuce, a small romaine,I think it was Little Jim and a butter crunch type of lettuce. Perhaps this year I will take some different varieties and sow them about the time my faithful and true volunteers are sprouting. The thyme in this picture is Lavender Creeping Thyme. (thymus preacox skorpilii) I purchased it many springs ago in Colorado. I have divided and planted this thyme throughout the garden. It loves it here.
Lovely thyme and stones I might add! Is that lettuce too? … you can pick a salad while walking through the garden. I look forward to seeing your ‘paths post’. Try saying that fast! :>)
Dear Gloria, Although not a vegetable grower – lack of space – I am tempted to grow salad crops in large pots. I have seen this done on several balconies in London, and now you have inspired me to have a go.
and they look so pretty together!
I love to grow lettuce, and I would love to grow thyme, but it is too hot here. I really like how you use it as a ground cover.
I like the idea of letting the lettuce go to seed, something I have not done before. It will be worth a try – especially if the seedlings are survivors.
I’ve never seen lettuce used as a ground cover, it does add a lot of interest! I wish my path was in a sunny area, I love how the thyme looks.
If I let my lettuce grow in the cracks in my path the snails would have a feast. Do you think that the smell of the thyme detracts snails from eating yours Gloria ?
Rosie
Hello Gloria,
Your thyme is beautiful. I look forward to seeing your lettuce crop in a few months. I love pathways made of stone and the thyme just makes it perfect.
Thanks for the comments-We are so dry here that we do not have snails. I can find some slugs under rocks and sometimes around the strawberries. I use a product called Escar-go! from Gardens Alive.
Hi Gloria, thanks for the info about the lettuces amid the thyme, and the Gardens Alive stuff. Slugs are a problem in some of our beds and seem unstoppable. We get that catalog and I have seen that product and will look into it. I look forward to the mining story.
Lettuce — never heard of that. Very clever. I am a huge fan of that thyme ground cover. I have that growing in my yard, too.
What a great idea! My volunteer lettuce always does better than the lettuce seed I plant in the spring.
I love the thyme! I do something similar in my garden, and I love the way it smells when I walk on it! Dreamy!
I have planted thyme and other “steppables”in between the stepping stones in my Lady Garden. It is also one of the few things I have found that will grow successfully in a large stone planter across the front of my house. The planter is covered by an overhanging eve and gets brutal hot afternoon sun in the summer. I love the way it smells!
I had no idea lettuce would volunteer. Although, I did plant some in the fall with a mustard cover crop and I’m surprised to see they are still green, not happy, but green after a couple of weeks under snow. I may have to experiment a bit next winter. Thanks for the inspiration.
I will try to use this idea of self-seeded lettuce. Thank you Gloria! I am admiring your limestone!