California is in the midst of an incredible drought. I wasn't even sure if it would be feasible to grow any vegetables this year. After tearing out the grass from our front parking strip, I decided the trade off would be giving that water to grow some food.
I started today with planing some lettuce starts. I'm trying a variety new to me named Salanova. I selected butterhead varieties ranging from soft green, to dark red and then a pretty green with red speckles.
Green Salinova - Beautiful green rosettes will grow into large full buttery heads.
I'm pretty bad about harvesting lettuce. Once it fills in it makes the most beautiful raised garden bed, I hate to touch it. I eventually succumb and start making salads so I don't waste my labor and particularly my water.
Here is a picture of the yard with the first bed planted. I've also been slowing adding herbs to the bed across the way. Right now that bed just contains some chives, parsley, oregano, thyme, and basil.
As you can see in the foreground I have few other things to plant too including a few tomatoes, squash and some Japanese cucumbers. I'll get to those tomorrow. Due to the drought the planter beds are so dry we have to take special measures to moisten the soil before we plant. You don't want to plant new plants in a dry bed. To moisten the soil we'll set out a small sprinkler. We'll wet down the beds (which are about 48" wide by 6' long) in two 30 minute intervals and continue if needed until the water penetrates at least 5-6" down. Once the soil is evenly moist, I'll plant the next plants.