I have three 2 ft by 4 ft hydroponic shelf gardens where I grow spinach and loose-leaf lettuce. The red lettuce I have been growing is called Merlot. After testing 20 different varieties, it is my favorite. Now I am starting to test varieties of flat-leaf spinach and have my 1st test crop growing now. I also grow some decorative house plants from cuttings from time to time. I have been gardening this way for the last 4 years. My wife and I have not bought lettuce in the grocery store during this time. You just pick it and eat it. Doesn't get any easier than that.