Lactuca sativa‘Parris Island Cos’
If you could combine all the near feature of modern bread cultivars and all the awing characteristics of heirloom cultivars , you ’d get something like ‘ Parris Island Cos . ’
This cultivar has the besotted head , disease- and bolt of lightning - resistance of modern plants , coupled with crisp , mellifluous leaves , and soft white warmheartedness of some heirloom .
The heads grow large , up to a foot tall , but do n’t become baffling or blistering despite their size .
Photo by Meghan Yager.
We link to vendor to help you find relevant products . If you corrupt from one of our links , we may earn a commission .
This cultivar isresistant to boltingand can put up some drouth and plenty of heat , all while make flavorful headway made up of dead cupped leaves .
Looking for one of the best romaine choice out there ? You bump it . This template will explain everything you should do it about growing this starring cultivar .
Photo by Meghan Yager.
Here ’s what ’s on the carte du jour :
What You’ll Learn
Before we get our deal dirty , it helps to jazz a bit about where this plant life comes from , and that ’s what we ’ll discuss first .
Cultivation and History
‘ Parris Island Cos ’ is the child of ‘ PI 120965 ’ and ‘ Dark Green Cos , ’ the latter of which is known for its benighted green , seraphic , mild leave-taking that are sodding in Caesar salads .
It was bred by Clemson College ’s Agricultural Experiment Station in 1951 in Charleston , South Carolina , to thrive in the hotness and humidity of the southerly mood ; and was released by Ferry Morse in the same class .
It ’s a romaine - type that was identify for Parris Island in South Carolina , and “ cos ” is another name for romaine .
Sometimes , this cultivar is just listed as ‘ Parris Island . ’ Do n’t concern if the “ cos ” is lacking , it ’s still the same glorious works .
Propagation ‘Parris Island Cos’
If you desire to protrude mickle of plant , germ are the way to go . If you just require one , look for a seedling at your local baby’s room .
But , since they ’re so easy to originate from seed , might as well go that route . Let ’s utter about seed starting .
From Seed
About four weeks before the last predicted frost date , pop out your seeds indoors . you’re able to also go them indoors in the late summertime for maturate in the fall .
Fillseed trays or individual four - column inch potswithseed starting mixand sow in the seeds three inches apart . Or , you may scatter them over the tray with the idea of thinning the seedling later on . The seeds should be about an eighth of an inch deep .
Place the containers or seed - start out tray in an surface area that receives a few hours of lineal light or bright , indirect light . Keep the dirt moist but not wet until they germinate , which should only take a week or so .
When the seedlings are about two inches marvellous , cut them to about three inch aside .
Once the seedlings are about three or four inch tall and the last predicted frost day of the month has passed , you may transplant them out into the garden . Before you do that , temper the seedlings off . This summons is well-heeled but it have about a week , so you need to plan forrader .
To inure them off , take the seedlings outside for an hour during the morning or early good afternoon and set them in the domain where you mean to plant . Then , take them back deep down .
The next 24-hour interval , add another hour . Keep adding an time of day each day over the course of a week . Now the plants are ready to go to their lasting home .
you’re able to also direct sow seeds after the last predicted frost date .
Either air the seed and remember to reduce them after germination , or space your seeds six to 12 inches aside . Keep the grease equally moist and gratuitous from widow’s weeds until the plants are established .
From Seedlings
If you start your own seedlings indoors or buy greenhouse get-go , you ’re get to want to get them in the solid ground or a larger growing container at some compass point .
When I say a larger container , do n’t panic . This cultivar only want a container that ’s about six inches in diameter for each plant life . The most important matter is that it has drainage hole .
One of the first-class characteristics of ‘ Parris Island Cos ’ is that the head grow extremely summary and upright .
you may really pack them into the garden and maturate a lot of plants in a small spot .
set them about 12 inches asunder , but you’re able to get away with half that if you predict you ’ll be watering at the ground storey and not on the leaves . have a bun in the oven more or less pocket-size heads if you pack them in .
When you ’re quick to transplant , amend the dirt with some well - rotted compost to improve drain and water retention , and to add nutrient .
Dig a hole the sizing of the growing container and gently move out the seedling from its growing Mary Jane .
Lower the plant into the hole you made and firm the soil or potting mix around the roots . water system well so the soil is moist but not squiffy .
If you ’re mean to grow your cabbage in containers , utilize a potting mix formulated for vegetables .
How to Grow ‘Parris Island Cos’
As I mentioned , this cultivar was bred to thrive in the raging , humid mood of coastal South Carolina . That ’s not the kind of climate that most lettuces typically prosper in – they usually care coolheaded weather intimately .
‘ Parris Island Cos ’ can tolerate drought and heating system without gobble . It can even tolerate pitiable grunge , to some degree . Somewhat sandy or cadaver soil wo n’t phase it much .
Still , if you want the tumid , sweetest , healthiest heads , provide loose , organically - rich stain . I do n’t have thoroughgoing soil in my garden , and I ’m betting you do n’t either .
But since lettuce does n’t have a large ascendent system , you may amend your existing land reasonably easy to make it just right for your ‘ Parris Island Cos . ’
Dig down six inches deep and a foot wide-cut per plant , transfer any rock and work in the compost . Fill the area back in with the mixed soil .
It ’s also easy to grow in a windowpane boxful , container , orraised bedfilled with potting or raise layer grunge .
Learn more about how to produce lettuce in container in our guide .
The works ask at least four hour of direct light per 24-hour interval , though up to eight is well . If you hold out in an region that set about exceedingly hot now and then , even in the spring or fall , you might desire to give the plants some afternoon shade .
Regardless of where you grow them , if the temperatures climb above 80 ° F for any length of time , put an umbrella or shade cloth over the plant and give them an extra Venus’s curse of water system .
Speaking of water , ‘ Parris Island Cos ’ will grow and taste better if provided with uniform moisture , never letting the stain completely dry out out or become too wet .
The soil should always feel like a well - wrung - out sponge . That said , this cultivar will put up some drouth without compromise tone or texture too much .
Since you used sweet pot soil or worked incompostto the soil at planting time there is no need for fertilizer .
Growing Tips
Maintenance
Now and then , the out leaves might prepare spots , browned or yellowish orbit , or become damaged .
Pluck these off before they become a drag on the rest of the plant .
Otherwise , you do n’t need to do anything but weewee and keep an eye out for pests and diseases when growing ‘ Parris Island Cos . ’
Where to Buy ‘Parris Island Cos’
‘ Parris Island Cos ’ has long been a favorite of commercial-grade growers because of its consistent heads and quick growth , but this cultivar has also become pop with home growers .
That means you may discover it in lots of places where lettuce seeds are sold .
‘ Parris Island Cos ’
Burpee , for example , sells pack of 1,000 germ .
Or , if you ’re looking for a wider range of quantity options , from small packets to bulk , visit True Leaf Market .
Managing Pests and Disease
‘ Parris Island Cos ’ is more resistant to disease than many other cultivar out there .
Butrabbitsanddeerlove it just as much as any other loot they can get their tooth on . If you have regular bunny girl or deer visitors , regard uprise your plants in containers on a patio or porch .
Or you could comprehend them all in a telegram cage . That wo n’t protect them from slugs , though .
Slugs and snailsare the other major menace to your dinero harvest . If they come to visit , use your favorite shot or other slug dominance method .
I often rise my moolah in rampart - mounted container because the slug in my area are inexorable .
But they do n’t seem to come up the flora hang up five feet up on the side of my garage . The lengths we ’ll go to in ordination to invalidate pests , right ?
If you ’d like to attempt some wall - hang up plantation owner , these from the Summer Flower storeat Amazonare excellent because they ’re the right size , have good drainage , and come in a variety of colors .
Summer Flower Wall Hanging Planters
Would n’t it be awesome if there was lettuce that was immune to insect pestis likeaphids , mallet , caterpillar , andfungus gnat ? Sorry , that has n’t been bred ( yet ) .
’ Parris Island Cos ’ is a tasty repast for all kinds of pests , lead in porous leaves , yellow , and go around diseases . Read our guide to lettuce peststo determine more about the common bug that feed on moolah and how to deal with them .
This cultivar is immune to mosaic virus . It ’s slightly susceptible to common lettuce diseases like leaf spot , diffuse bunkum , damping off , and downlike mildew .
If something does n’t look right with your industrial plant , read our template to lettuce diseasesto identify the problem and learn how to treat it .
Harvesting
The whole , mature heads are ready in 70 day , but the young leaves are good to go whenever they reach a sizing that you wish .
The vernal leafage are toothsome , and this cultivar is extremely popular as a babe leaf eccentric . If you appropriate the heads to age , they have a mild flavor and absolutely cupped shape that micturate them a go - to for gormandise .
utilise a duo of unclouded scissors to clip off leave-taking as you need them , or use a clean tongue to slice off the entire head as airless to the grease as you’re able to .
Learn more about how to glean lettuce in our guide .
Preserving
In 2020 , investigator at theUSDA ’s Agricultural Research Serviceled by geneticist Ivan Simko find that this cultivar keep better than most other romaine type after harvest .
I ’ve been able to store the school principal and entrust for several weeks in the crisper drawer with a desiccant .
I twine them in a theme towel and put them inside a fictile grip , and they rest overbold for an absurdly farseeing meter , compared to other lettuces .
Recipes and Cooking Ideas
Two words : Caesar salad . I have never found another cultivar that works as well in a Caesar salad as ‘ Parris Island Cos . ’
It does n’t weigh if you care your salad anchovy - backbreaking ( raise paw ) like the onefrom our baby situation , Foodal , or opt a vegetarian choice , this moolah should be the cornerstone .
Really , any salad taste awing with ‘ Parris Island Cos . ’ If you like lucre wrapper , it ’s also the gross option .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Enjoy a Trip to the Islands
If you ’ve struggled to grow lettuce because the temperature get too hot in your arena , no doubt you ’ll be rejoicing now that you ’ve found this option .
And formore information about growing dough in your garden , hold back out these guides next :
photograph by Meghan Yager © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL rightfulness RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . Product photo via Burpee . Uncredited picture : Shutterstock .
About
Kristine Lofgren
