Mesclun, Gourmet Greens Mix Seeds

• SKU: 142235
• Common Name: Mesclun

• Plant Type: Vegetable
• Plant Lifecycle: Annual
• Fill Weight (grams): 1.5 g
• Planting Method: Direct Sow
• Water Needs: Moist 2.5-5 cm (1-2") per week
• Landscape Use: Edible Garden
• Companion Planting: Plant near chives, onions, oregano, peas, radish, basil, zinnia. Chives, onions, and garlic can repel aphids and other pests by disguising the scent of the lettuce with their own aromatic properties. Basil is believed to enhance both the taste and development of lettuce. Radishes can serve as a useful decoy crop to attract flea beetles away from lettuce.
• Flavor: Lettuces, arugulas, and kales with complementary flavors and textures
• Preparation Ideas: Prepare a salad of lettuce and mesclun. Blend together 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and lemon juice, add 1/4 teaspoon of sugar, salt and pepper to taste. Pour over salad and enjoy!

Mesclun seeds should be sown directly into the garden when the soil is warm and all danger of frost is passed. Optimum soil temperature (not air temperature) should be 5-27°C (40-81°F) for seeds to germinate. Planting at a lower temperature will delay germination. Space seeds and plant to the depth indicated below. Press seeds into the soil to ensure good contact and cover with 1.3 cm (1/2") of soil. After planting, water seeds with a gentle mist or shower. It is critical to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy during germination. When your seedlings reach a height of a few centimetres (inches) and have developed 2 or 3 pairs of leaves, it is important to thin them out, according to the plant spacing indicated below. Thinnings can be used as baby greens. Do not allow the soil to become dry, as young plants have underdeveloped roots and can quickly dehydrate, particularly in windy conditions. Mesclun grows quickly and more seeds can be succession planted every 3 weeks until August for a continuous supply of mesclun.

• Planting Depth: 1.3 cm (1/2")
• Seed Spacing: Sow mesclun seeds roughly 2.5 cm (1") apart in rows, keeping rows approximately 45 cm (18") apart.
• Plant Spacing: 20 cm (8")
• Instructions for Nutrient Care: Feed plants SUPERthrive once per week. Mix 1.2 ml (1/4 tsp) per 4L (1 gallon) of water in a watering can and apply solution to the base of the plants.

• The key to a high-quality crop is consistent moisture. If mesclun plants are heat or drought-stressed, the leaves turn bitter and the plants will bolt. Bolting is when the plants switch from leaf production to flower production and a flower stalk emerges.
• Delay bolting by covering plants with a shade cloth so they get filtered light. Be sure to maintain watering throughout the warmest parts of the growing season.
• Promote leaf production by regularly feeding with a water-soluble plant food such as SUPERthrive.
• Harvest mesclun in the morning, before the sun hits the plant, when full-size but young and tender.
• Wilted mesclun leaves? Place the leaves in a bowl of cold water with ice cubes and soak for about 15 minutes, spin them dry and they are ready to use.