Lactuca sativa ‘Parris Island Cos’
For those who may mix all the nice options of contemporary lettuce cultivars and all of the superior traits of heirloom cultivars, you’d get one thing like ‘Parris Island Cos.’
This cultivar has the tight heads, disease- and bolt-resistance of contemporary crops, coupled with crisp, candy leaves, and delicate white hearts of some heirlooms.
The heads develop giant, as much as a foot tall, however don’t turn out to be powerful or bitter regardless of their dimension.
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This cultivar is resistant to bolting and might tolerate some drought and loads of warmth, all whereas forming flavorful heads made up of completely cupped leaves.
In search of the most effective romaine choices on the market? You discovered it. This information will clarify every thing you need to learn about rising this stellar cultivar.
Right here’s what’s on the menu:
Earlier than we get our fingers soiled, it helps to know a bit about the place this plant comes from, and that’s what we’ll focus on first.
Cultivation and Historical past
‘Parris Island Cos’ is the kid of ‘PI 120965’ and ‘Darkish Inexperienced Cos,’ the latter of which is understood for its darkish inexperienced, candy, delicate leaves which can be excellent in Caesar salads.
It was bred by Clemson School’s Agricultural Experiment Station in 1951 in Charleston, South Carolina, to thrive within the warmth and humidity of the southern local weather; and was launched by Ferry Morse in the identical 12 months.
It’s a romaine-type that was named for Parris Island in South Carolina, and “cos” is one other identify for romaine.
Typically, this cultivar is simply listed as ‘Parris Island.’ Don’t fear if the “cos” is missing, it’s nonetheless the identical superb plant.
Propagation ‘Parris Island Cos’
If you wish to begin numerous crops, seeds are the best way to go. For those who simply want one, search for a seedling at your native nursery.
However, since they’re really easy to begin from seed, may as effectively go that route. Let’s discuss seed beginning.
From Seed
About 4 weeks earlier than the final predicted frost date, begin your seeds indoors. It’s also possible to begin them indoors within the late summer time for rising within the fall.
Fill seed trays or particular person four-inch pots with seed beginning combine and sow the seeds three inches aside. Or, you possibly can scatter them over the tray with the thought of thinning the seedlings in a while. The seeds ought to be about an eighth of an inch deep.
Place the containers or seed-starting trays in an space that receives a couple of hours of direct mild or vivid, oblique mild. Maintain the soil moist however not moist till they germinate, which ought to solely take per week or so.
When the seedlings are about two inches tall, skinny them to about three inches aside.
As soon as the seedlings are about three or 4 inches tall and the final predicted frost date has handed, you possibly can transplant them out into the backyard. Earlier than you try this, harden the seedlings off. This course of is straightforward nevertheless it takes a few week, so it’s worthwhile to plan forward.
To harden them off, take the seedlings outdoors for an hour in the course of the morning or early afternoon and set them within the space the place you propose to plant. Then, take them again inside.
The subsequent day, add one other hour. Maintain including an hour every day over the course of per week. Now the crops are able to go to their everlasting house.
It’s also possible to direct sow seeds after the final predicted frost date.
Both broadcast the seeds and keep in mind to skinny them after germination, or area your seeds six to 12 inches aside. Maintain the soil evenly moist and free from weeds till the crops are established.
From Seedlings
For those who begin your personal seedlings indoors or buy nursery begins, you’re going to wish to get them within the floor or a bigger rising container sooner or later.
After I say a bigger container, don’t panic. This cultivar solely wants a container that’s about six inches in diameter for every plant. A very powerful factor is that it has drainage holes.
One of many wonderful traits of ‘Parris Island Cos’ is that the heads develop extraordinarily compact and upright.
You may actually pack them into the backyard and develop plenty of crops in a small spot.
Plant them about 12 inches aside, however you will get away with half that in the event you promise you’ll be watering on the soil degree and never on the leaves. Count on barely smaller heads in the event you pack them in.
Once you’re able to transplant, amend the soil with some well-rotted compost to enhance drainage and water retention, and so as to add vitamins.
Dig a gap the dimensions of the rising container and gently take away the seedling from its rising pot.
Decrease the plant into the opening you made and agency the soil or potting combine across the roots. Water effectively so the soil is moist however not moist.
For those who’re desiring to develop your lettuce in containers, use a potting combine formulated for greens.
Methods to Develop ‘Parris Island Cos’
As I discussed, this cultivar was bred to thrive within the sizzling, humid local weather of coastal South Carolina. That’s not the type of local weather that the majority lettuces usually thrive in – they usually like cool climate greatest.
‘Parris Island Cos’ can tolerate drought and warmth with out bolting. It may well even tolerate poor soil, to a point. Considerably sandy or clay soil received’t section it a lot.
Nonetheless, if you need the most important, sweetest, healthiest heads, present free, organically-rich soil. I don’t have excellent soil in my backyard, and I’m betting you don’t both.
However since lettuce doesn’t have a big root system, you possibly can amend your present soil fairly simply to make it good to your ‘Parris Island Cos.’
Dig down six inches deep and a foot vast per plant, take away any rocks and work within the compost. Fill the realm again in with the combined soil.
It’s additionally straightforward to develop in a window field, container, or raised bed full of potting or raised mattress soil.
Learn more about how to grow lettuce in containers in our guide.
The crops want at the least 4 hours of direct mild per day, although as much as eight is healthier. For those who stay in an space that will get tremendous sizzling from time to time, even within the spring or fall, you may wish to give the crops some afternoon shade.
No matter the place you develop them, if the temperatures climb above 80°F for any size of time, put an umbrella or shade fabric over the crops and provides them an additional dose of water.
Talking of water, ‘Parris Island Cos’ will develop and style greatest if supplied with constant moisture, by no means letting the soil utterly dry out or turn out to be too moist.
The soil ought to at all times really feel like a well-wrung-out sponge. That stated, this cultivar will tolerate some drought with out compromising taste or texture an excessive amount of.
Because you used contemporary potting soil or labored in compost to the soil at planting time there isn’t a want for fertilizer.
Rising Ideas
- Present 4 to eight hours of solar per day.
- Maintain the soil constantly moist.
- Shade crops when temperatures climb over 80°F.
Upkeep
Every now and then, the outer leaves may develop spots, brown or yellow areas, or turn out to be broken.
Pluck these off earlier than they turn out to be a drag on the remainder of the plant.
In any other case, you don’t must do something however water and hold an eye fixed out for pests and ailments when rising ‘Parris Island Cos.’
The place to Purchase ‘Parris Island Cos’
‘Parris Island Cos’ has lengthy been a favourite of economic growers due to its uniform heads and fast development, however this cultivar has additionally turn out to be common with house growers.
Meaning you could find it in numerous locations the place lettuce seeds are bought.
Burpee, for instance, sells packs of 1,000 seeds.
Or, in the event you’re in search of a wider vary of amount choices, from small packets to bulk, visit True Leaf Market.
Managing Pests and Illness
‘Parris Island Cos’ is extra immune to ailments than many different cultivars on the market.
However rabbits and deer adore it simply as a lot as another lettuce they will get their tooth on. If in case you have common bunny or deer guests, take into account rising your crops in containers on a patio or porch.
Or you can cowl them utterly in a wire cage. That received’t defend them from slugs, although.
Slugs and snails are the opposite main risk to your lettuce harvest. If they arrive to go to, use your favourite pellet or different slug management methodology.
I typically develop my lettuce in wall-mounted containers as a result of the slugs in my space are relentless.
However they don’t appear to search out the crops hanging 5 ft up on the facet of my storage. The lengths we’ll go to with the intention to keep away from pests, proper?
For those who’d wish to strive some wall-hanging planters, these from the Summer time Flower retailer at Amazon are wonderful as a result of they’re the best dimension, have good drainage, and are available quite a lot of colours.
Summer Flower Wall Hanging Planters
Wouldn’t or not it’s superior if there was lettuce that was resistant to insect pests like aphids, beetles, caterpillars, and fungus gnats? Sorry, that hasn’t been bred (but).
’Parris Island Cos’ is a tasty meal for all types of pests, leading to holey leaves, yellowing, and spreading ailments. Read our guide to lettuce pests to be taught extra in regards to the widespread bugs that feed on lettuce and tips on how to take care of them.
This cultivar is immune to mosaic virus. It’s considerably vulnerable to widespread lettuce ailments like leaf spot, soft rot, damping off, and downy mildew.
If one thing doesn’t look proper along with your crops, read our guide to lettuce diseases to determine the issue and discover ways to deal with it.
Harvesting
The entire, mature heads are prepared in 70 days, however the younger leaves are good to go every time they attain a dimension that you just like.
The younger leaves are scrumptious, and this cultivar is extraordinarily common as a child leaf sort. For those who enable the heads to mature, they’ve a light taste and completely cupped form that makes them a go-to for stuffing.
Use a pair of unpolluted scissors to clip off leaves as you want them, or use a clear knife to slice off all the head as near the soil as you possibly can.
Learn more about how to harvest lettuce in our guide.
Preserving
In 2020, researchers on the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service led by geneticist Ivan Simko discovered that this cultivar retains higher than most different romaine sorts after harvesting.
I’ve been capable of retailer the heads and leaves for a number of weeks within the crisper drawer with a desiccant.
I wrap them in a paper towel and put them inside a plastic bag, and so they keep contemporary for an absurdly very long time, in comparison with different lettuces.
Recipes and Cooking Concepts
Two phrases: Caesar salad. I’ve by no means discovered one other cultivar that works as effectively in a Caesar salad as ‘Parris Island Cos.’
It doesn’t matter in the event you like your salad anchovy-heavy (raises hand) just like the one from our sister site, Foodal, or favor a vegetarian choice, this lettuce ought to be the bottom.
Actually, any salad tastes superior with ‘Parris Island Cos.’ For those who like lettuce wraps, it’s additionally the right alternative.
Fast Reference Rising Information
Plant Sort: | Annual vegetable | Water Wants: | Average |
Origins: | Mediterranean area | Tolerance: | Frost, cool temperatures |
Hardiness (USDA Zone): | 2-11 | Upkeep: | Low |
Season: | Spring, fall | Soil Sort: | Loamy, free |
Publicity: | Full solar to partial shade | Soil pH: | 5.8-6.5 |
Time to Maturity: | 70 days | Soil Drainage: | Nicely-draining |
Spacing: | 6-12 inches | Companion Planting: | Beets, carrots, dill, kale, onions, Swiss chard |
Planting Depth: | 1/8 inch (seeds), similar depth as nursery container (transplants) | Keep away from Planting With: | Brassicas, melons, squash |
Peak: | 12 inches | Household: | Asteraceae |
Unfold: | 6 inches | Genus: | Lactuca |
Development Fee: | Quick | Species: | Sativa |
Widespread Pests and Ailments: | Deer, rabbits; Aphids, beetles, caterpillars, fungus gnats; backside rot, damping off, downy mildew, and leaf spot | Cultivar: | Parris Island Cos |
Get pleasure from a Journey to the Islands
For those who’ve struggled to develop lettuce as a result of the temperatures get too sizzling in your space, little doubt you’ll be rejoicing now that you just’ve discovered this feature.
How do you propose to make use of the leaves? What’s your favourite recipe? Share with us within the feedback part under.
And for more information about growing lettuce in your garden, try these guides subsequent: