I'm new to lettuce also. If you have slugs, I'd think containers would be great, that is, if the containers are kept out-of-reach of the slimies. My short experience w/'little gem' is that 1. it does not like full sun in hot weather 2. it bolts in high heat (hot, humid, 90sF) even when immature 3. it needs lots of water (for fast growth, which I read is key to getting tasty lettuce) 4. I wasn't impressed with its bland taste (before it bolted). I love romaine lettuce, but 'little gem' didn't have the typical sweet taste of a good romaine, and after the outer leaves are removed, you're left with a tiny head. However, the bland taste could be due to my inexperience w/growing lettuce. I'm switching to Swiss chard, kales, and other tasty and nutritious greens that need light cooking (for tummy safety), less water for growing and rinsing, can stand the heat, are not loved by slugs, are cut-and-come-again, and are more versatile (than lettuce) in the kitchen. Seed and Plant Sanctuary for Canada posted taste results here, and 'little gem' received an impressive 9 (out of 10). My conclusion is that 'little gem' likes it cool.... http://www.seedsanctuary.com/lettuce/index.cfm Here is a link that might be useful: Seed and Plant Sanctuary for Canada

Yes..........definitely do not plant Nettles and Comfrey. If you do you will be sorry for the rest of your life. Comfrey tea is very good. If you have a large property go out on the back forty and plant Comfrey in a fence row. Investigate to find a leaf supply. Use them for so called free mulch. My supply is three city blocks away at the Township yard waste collection place. They are all free. Tomatoes are heavy feeders. If you can put a gallon of compost in each planting hole you may have enough. I would consider purchasing a bag of organic fertilizer with low numbers like 4-2-4. One handful when planting and a top dressing of a handful when the first bloom is set. It sounds to me like you are planting a whole lot of tomatoes. If you are heavy eaters figure just two plants to each member of your family. Twice that will give you between ten and twenty pints to freeze. These are minimal estimates. I would hate to see you needing to hire help just to pick them all. You are definitely thinking the right direction. Without some kind of cover crop or cover mulch you may be thinking to big. I have never used a cover crop while growing. Any cover mulch will work but the supply of material should be close by at the time you need it. My personal experience is that if I do not have huge pile of material waiting it just does not get done. That is when the trouble begins. Hope this gives you some things to consider. I like the original question. Your care to tell us where you are in process helped me to think I know where you are heading. I hope you get several other responses from which you may consider and choose some advise.

Early Oct. sounds good...when can you set a date? If the weather doesn't go south just before the date, I'm contemplating a big change in part of my backyard's layout that will involve digging out a number of plants. I'll try to list some of those items just before the trade date. Tom, it seems there's always a "left behind" item to help keep us in touch...lol. BTW, you have email!

Onions, you could plant if you don't care about them forming bulbs. You could harvest them as scallions. Lettuce, you might get a few salads out of them before they bolt. I'm actually thinking of seeding some today, along with spinach. It may be too late, but I don't care. I figure I'll get a little bit of use out of them before they bolt. Same with cilantro. The cinlantro I planted last fall is bolting now, so I need a new crop. Carrots are slower, so it may be too late for them. Now, I don't harvest whole heads of lettuce or spinach. I go out with my knife and cut some leaves off each plant. Some people use scissors, too, but I find a knife, well, easier to find, usually. I also cram stuff in close together, and plant things on top of each other. If you have limited space, and don't like things crammed together, you may save youself the trouble and go ahead with warm season stuff. Last weekend I plunked tomato transplants right in the middle of the pots I have garlic growing in. It's an experiment - I hope it works. Sally