Lettuce is one of the most popular leap crops in the world . Thanks to its snappy grain and great wellness welfare , it ’s a staple fiber in salad and sandwiches . Instead of sticking to the boring honest-to-god store - corrupt varieties , why not grow some of your very own loot in your garden ?
My family and I wipe out long ton of lettuce . Unfortunately , a mess of those big bucks we buy at our foodstuff store end up in the compost bin . Iceberg lettuce is notorious renunciation badquickly in the fridge .
After what seemed like the 100th slash lettuce caput , I decided I would give produce shekels a shot . sour , it ’s very gentle ! All it takes is some other provision and provision .
Lettuce grown in a container at the BMC Horticulture Show
What is Lettuce
Lettuce is acool - season cropwith a tenacious account . It ’s think that these plant were originally farmed by Ancient Egyptians . Back then , lettuce plants were tiny weeds . James Leonard Farmer cultivated the plants to grow enceinte and at last used the foliage to bring forth oil !
Since then , lettuce has spread worldwide . It ’s a staple crop with a vast market . In the United States alone , over8 million poundsof the green stuff was acquire domestically during the 2015 calendar twelvemonth .
The most pop variety for production is headed lettuce , such as Iceberg . However , there are gross ton of other alternative for you to grow in your garden .
Packet of compost I used for my plants
While it ’s often take in as a catalyst for other flavors , lettuce has a lot to put up in terms of nutrition . The plant life is chock - full ofvitamins and healthy minerals . It has Vitamin A to support cadre growth , Vitamin C to improve your resistant health , and Vitamin K to keep your castanets in secure bod . Lettuce is also known to improve your blood pressure andcholesterol spirit level .
gratuitous to say , this crop is worthy of a spot in your garden .
What are the Different Varieties Available?
You ’re not just limited to Iceberg lettuce in your garden . While this variety certainly has its fringe benefit , there ’s a universe of smack and textures to taste out ! Here are some of the most common varieties available . These plants differ in the way they grow and the tastes they have to extend .
Leaf Lettuce
If you ’re looking to test the easiest variety , stick with folio lettuce . Leaf lettuce get very quickly . Some cultivars are quick to use up after only30 days .
As the name would suggest , these diverseness are comprised of huge crispy leaf . There is n’t a head or central emergence point . you could prove out several cultivars to bestow unparalleled color to your garden . Both red and green lolly options are usable . Some of the most democratic cultivar are Tango , Slobolt , Grand Rapids , and Lollo Rosso .
Head Lettuce
Also known asCrisphead , this variety is similar to the Iceberg lettuce you ’re conversant with . It has a blockheaded head and is renowned for its crispy texture . Head lettuce run to be a bit moresensitiveto the heating plant . So , it ’s good to be after these in cool environments . Those in warmer climates can wait until the free fall season to avoid any arise issues .
Some cultivar you’re able to try out admit Great Lakes , Crispivo , King Crown , or Batavian .
Butterhead
Sometimes consult to asBib lettuce , this sort is exchangeable to head lettuce . It has a tightly folded leaf , which resemble the structure and resolve of a traditional head . Typically , the centers of these plants are blanched livid .
Butterhead clams is bang-up for cold growing area . It ’s tolerant to low temperature . Cultivar selection let in Ermosa , Nancy , andBoston .
Romaine
Finally , there ’s Romaine lolly . Perhaps the second - most - popular miscellanea next to Iceberg , Romaine lettucesweet leavesand a decided look . The leaves sport a fundamental costa that ’s a bit firm . It support the longsighted and slender growth pattern .
Romaine lettuce , which is also called Cos dinero , takes a bit longer to grow . But , it ’s veryhardyand can thrive in environment where most varieties tend to have issues with . You should check over out cultivars like Green Towers , Red Eyes Cos , and Valley Heart .
When is the Best Time to Plant?
Lettuce grow best during the tank grow seasons . In most regions , this is during thespring and fall . Ideally , the temperatures should be above 40 degrees Fahrenheit . This is comparatively low compared to other crop , pretend it an excellent early - season task to take on . Most plants do best once the soil has reach temperatures between55 and 65 degrees .
you may , however , start your germ indoors to get a head start . I urge start out seeds up to 8 weeks before the last hoar date . This will give your seedlings plenty of sentence to pop up before they can be moved outside safely .
These plants will not do well during the summertime season . Excessive heat can stimulate the crop to startbolting , leaving behind a bitter and unpleasant taste . You should cease planting new lettuce seeds several weeks before the start of summertime .
Organic fertilizer I use for my plants
Luckily , you could restart only a few months later ! Lettuce does quite well during the fall , ensuring that you have plenty of fresh crop throughout the year .
Where Can You Plant Lettuce?
Once your surface area starts to experience the good temperatures , you’re able to start planning your garden . Preparing your situation is key to help your clams plant expand , so it ’s important to take some extra time to choose the right spot !
Sun Exposure
When it add up to sunshine , lettuce needs passel of it . Choose asunny spotthat receives full exposure throughout the daytime . The Sunday help to keep the soil fond while present all those leave all the Energy Department they need to grow .
If you live in a warmer area , you may take a spot that get restrained shade . Light specter will prevent excessive heat and bolt . stilted blending works well , too .
Soil Quality
Now , let ’s talk about soil calibre . Fertilized soil filled with nutrient is ideal . It ’s a good theme to prepare your soil a hebdomad before you sow into the ground or transplantation seedlings . you may work the filth with a hand trowel to remove any big clumps . Then , introduce someorganic compost .
Thecompostcan put in those all - important nutrients . Additionally , you necessitate to ensure that the pH proportion is just right . cabbage prefers slightlyacidic to impersonal soil . Aim for a pH level between5.8 and 6.5 . If you take to kick upstairs the pH a bit , consider add some lime tree to your grease during the formulation process .
Proper Drainage
In addition to making certain that your soil is fertile enough , you need to check drain . Lettuce has relativelyshallow roots . Unlike other plants where a deep root arrangement is encouraged , we desire all of the flora ’s energy to go towards creating delicious leaves .
Loam is best for simoleons . The soil should have a sandy grain to elevate drainage . Pooling water in slow - drain stain has been make love to cause root rot , so do n’t jump this footstep !
How to Plant Lettuce in the Garden
Now you ’re quick to get planting ! How you do this will calculate on several factors . The first is whether or not you ’re sow in seeds directly or using seedlings .
Planting Seedlings
If youstarted your seeds indoors , you already have a head start on the growing time of year . check that that your seedling are all thinned to one plant per pod . Ideally , you should set out reduce the tiny plants once they have developed3 to 4 true folio .
begin by giving your bantam industrial plant some time to acclimate . After the last frost , bring your seedlings outside for only a few time of day . Then , increase the amount of clock time they are outside every solar day . This gets the plant ready to be expose to Mother Nature and stave off shock . This appendage is referred to as “ hardening . ”
It ’s best to implant lettuce in rows . This put on to seedlings and direct - sow method . The rows make thing easier to manage while giving your works plenty of room to grow .
Ants farming aphids on my pepper plants
Dig a hole in your garden that ’s liberal enough to accommodate the seedling . Gently place it into the hole and cover the roots with soil . Spacethe seedling 4 inches apart if you have a leafage variety , 8 column inch apart for Romaine simoleons , or 16 in asunder for a firm - head variety .
There should be12 to 15 inchesof blank between each run-in . irrigate your seedlings thoroughly and you ’re practiced to go .
Sowing Seeds Directly
Generally , direct - sow horticulture is preferred when it comes to lettuce . The antecedent are able to found without any intermission .
Like with seedling , it ’s best to plant in rows that are up to 15 column inch apart . The unparalleled thing about planting pelf seminal fluid is that you could place them very tight together . Most gardener will plant up to10 seeds every metrical unit . Do n’t care , you ’ll slim down the ruck after .
To inseminate the seeds , just place them in a slim divet . Then , enshroud the semen with about aquarter to a half an inch of stain .
Germination usually happen in7 to 10days in the right condition . After several truthful leaves have down up , you may initiate thinning the plants .
Remove some of the weaker plants until your wampum is appropriately space . The spacing necessity are the same as if you were transplanting seedlings and reckon entirely on the salmagundi .
How to Take Care of Lettuce
Of course , induce your new seeds into the ground is only one piece of the puzzle . After you ’ve completed the planting mental process , you must be argus-eyed about your plant ’ care . Despite their resiliency , your lettuce will only grow to its full potential if you take care of its needs .
Watering
While gelt loves H2O , you demand to be careful not to go overboard . The goal is to keep the soil moist . Because the roots do n’t dive too deeply into the ground , you do n’t need to do deep hydrations like you would with other plants .
rather , water the plant softly and often . A luminosity every Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or every other Clarence Shepard Day Jr. should do just fine . endeavor to forefend
you may check the soil daily to ensure that your plants are always hydrated . Just wedge your finger into the soil about an inch to see if it ’s wet . If your digit come out dry , your gelt is thirsty !
Some gardeners utilize adrip hose . This a good pick . Just check that that the menses is downcast enough to not saturate the roots unendingly
Fertilizing
When it amount to applying fertilizer , less is more . by and large , you only require to provide fertilizer one fourth dimension during the plant ’s animation . employ a slow - spillage plant food about3 weeksafter planting .
The fertilizer will provide a boost of nitrogen throughout the grow cycle . Stick with constitutive fertilizers if potential . One of the best nitrogen - plentiful natural fertilizer you may get ischicken manure .
If you are using an all - born fertiliser , you may need to apply more frequently . lowly doses every hebdomad or two are idealistic if a slow - spillage product is n’t being used .
Weeding
Weedsare notorious for hogging food in the soil . Lettuce is specially susceptible to the effects of a grass encroachment because of its washy and shallow roots . Luckily , you may take upkeep of the problem before and during the rise time of year .
Several weeks before you engraft your seed , prepare the territory . Asweedsstart to pop up up , remove them by script . Do n’t cultivate the land too much , as this could bring new weed cum closer to the surface where they can burgeon forth .
After you have off existing mourning band , you should acknowledge that few weed pop up in the hereafter . For those that do rise up their surly head , just pick them out by handwriting . Exercise caution when doing this . Do n’t employ tools that could damage the dinero origin .
Mulch
Mulchis a great answer to many gardening problems . It works great with loot and does n’t affect the growth of plants . you may apply organic mulch to keep back soil wet , foreclose weeds from spring up , and protect the root . Just apply a thin level of constitutional mulch . Make certain to leave some quad around the radix of the industrial plant to prevent any decompose issues .
How to Harvest and Store Lettuce
harvest home lettuce is very simple . Not only that , but you’re able to harvest the plant at many point during its growth cycle to cope with your pauperization .
If you want to extend the growing season and harvest as much lettuce as possible , we urge planting seed every other hebdomad . The staggered planting methodmaximizes your yieldand allows you to revel the fresh lettuce before it goes bad .
Lettuce can reach maturity anywhere between30 and 100days after planting . It all depends on the mixture .
However , you may start enjoying the flora rather than that if you want . you could pluck off folio and savor microgreens as before long as8 daysafter planting .
To reap full - grown scratch plants , remove leaf or rationalise the industrial plant at the home just before the plant reach full maturity date . Mature lettuce plants run to take on a more caustic taste . So , you desire to reap before it reaches that level . Just employ your good judgment and keep an centre on your plants . You ’ll know when the cabbage reaches its want color and texture .
No matter when you adjudicate to reap , do it in the morning after the plants have received a mo of sunshine . This aid
Sometimes , you’re able to enjoy a second harvest . This can be done if you only remove the outer layers of lolly plants with a head . Head boodle and Romaine lucre can continue to develop as long as you leave the base intact .
Storing Lettuce
I always advocate eat lettuce as soon as possible . Nothing beats bracing - from - the - garden taste . However , if you must store the lettuce , you’re able to do so in the icebox . Lettuce lasts up to10 dayswhen stored by rights .
Do n’t wash away your lettuce before you pop them in the electric refrigerator . alternatively , order them on a paper towel and let some of the garden water dry off . Then , place the dough in aloose bag . you could put the open bag in your crisper drawer to stay invigorated .
What Pests and Diseases Affect Lettuce?
Lettuce is a particularly appetizing plant life for pests . The gravid leave incline to attract plague likeaphidsand slug . They can soak up away nutrients and bequeath your healthy industrial plant looking less - than - ideal . There are tons of natural pesticide available .
Alternatively , you’re able to assay some age - one-time gadfly control technique . Planting row ofchives or garlicbetween your wampum has shown to be effective . aphid hate those plant , so they ’ll keep off the area . Meanwhile , a sprinkle ofDiatomaceous Earthis big for getting rid of pesky slugs .
When it comes to diseases , one of the most common issues bread faces istip burn off . The edge of the leafage will deform dark-brown and frail . It ’s a precondition that normally impress plant when you do n’t irrigate consistently . To take upkeep of it , just snip off the bad bits and adopt a better watering docket .
Fungal problems likeWhite Moldare common , too . They be given to affect plants that are overcrowded or those that have miserable drainage . you may off some plants to improve air circulation around the leafage and prevent the disease from reoccurring .
Summary
There ’s no better plant to start your garden with than scratch . Not only is it easy to grow , but it provide a usable product that can improve your health in so many way . Lettuce plant life do n’t necessitate a net ton of know - how to grow successfully , so there ’s no excuse to not give it a attempt !
The first step is to find the right planting website and prepare your territory . Once you have chosen the varieties you want to engraft and get your seeds in the ground , it ’s suave sailing from there . Before you know it , you ’ll have a bounteousness of fresh home - grown greens to enjoy !
Fact see to it , Written , and Published by Kevin Rodrigues
Kevin is the founder of Gardening Mentor , a website that drive to teach mass to grow their own food in a limited space . As a ego - taught gardener , Kevin has expend several years grow plants and creating gardening subject on the website . He is certified in Home Horticulture and Organic Gardening from Oregon State University . He has a Post Graduate Diploma in Horticulture and Landscape Gardening from Mumbai University . take more
