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How long does it take to grow a lettuce


A Guide to Planting & Harvesting Lettuce

You might not be surprised to find out that the most widely planted salad vegetable in the United States is lettuce. As the foundation of your salad and your garden, lettuce is an ideal garden vegetable. You can tuck it into small areas, it grows easily and it loves cool weather. These lettuce growing tips will keep your garden and salad bowl full of crisp, green lettuce.

How to Grow Lettuce

Lettuce is an easy-to-grow annual vegetable. Considered a spring and fall crop, lettuce thrives when temperatures are between 60 to 70 degrees F. Many varieties reach maturity in as little as 30 days, and some can even be harvested much earlier as microgreens. From your garden beds to patio containers, these simple steps will give you a bountiful supply of crisp salad greens throughout multiple seasons.

    1. When to Plant Lettuce

Lettuce loves cool weather. You can begin planting leaf, romaine and butterhead lettuce as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. Depending on the variety, lettuce germinates in temperatures between 40 to 85 degrees F. If you plant lettuce in successive plantings, with 10 to 14 days in between, you’ll have an extended harvest. To prevent summer bolt, stop planting one month before warm summer temperatures start. Begin planting fall lettuce in late summer so it reaches maturity when the fall air is cool.

Head lettuce is usually started indoors or in a cold frame and transplanted in the spring after the last frost date. Growing lettuce from seedlings for early spring transplant is a good way to get a head start on the growing season.

    1. Where to Plant Lettuce

The ideal lettuce growing location for spring and fall is in a spot that receives full sun. If you plan on growing lettuce during the summer or in warm planting zones, partial shade can provide protection from the heat. Growing lettuce from seed in late summer may require generous artificial shade to help cool the soil for germination. Once days become cooler, the shade can be removed to give plenty of sunlight to young lettuce plants.

Lettuce grows best in loose, cool soil with good drainage. The addition of organic materials, such as compost or manure, will increase drainage, provide essential nutrients and improve your lettuce growing conditions. If you’ve had trouble with lettuce growth, consider purchasing a soil test kit. Lettuce is sensitive to low pH. The addition of lime can help bring the pH to at least 6.0.

    1. How to Plant Lettuce

It doesn’t take much work to grow lettuce from seeds. Lettuce seeds are often quite small and only require a planting depth of ¼ to ½ inch deep. Growing lettuce in rows gives your garden a traditional look. Consider alternating rows of green and red lettuce for a whimsical touch.

How far apart to plant lettuce depends on the type of lettuce you’re planting. When sowing seeds directly into the soil, you should plant approximately 10 seeds per foot. Space your rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Thin leaf lettuce seedlings to 4 inches apart. Romaine and butterhead lettuce seedlings require 6 to 8 inches between each plant. Removed seedlings can be transplanted or eaten as delicious, tender microgreens.

Head lettuce is usually grown from seeds started indoors during warm weather for a fall garden. Transplant head lettuce in rows 12 to 18 inches apart with 10 to 12 inches between each plant.

    1. Water Requirements for Lettuce

You don’t need lettuce to develop deep roots. In fact, you want to encourage leaf growth over rooting. Lettuce watering should be light, frequent and consistent. The goal is to simply keep the soil moist. Avoid watering too often – overwatering leads to root rot, disease and stunted growth.

    1. Protecting Against Disease and Pests

Aphids can easily destroy a lettuce patch. Leaves curl and wilt as nutrients and water are sucked away. Aphids also spread disease and create mold issues. You’ll find these annoying little white pests hiding on the undersides of lettuce leaves. There isn’t a systemic insecticide to control aphids, so your best option is to encourage natural predators, such as lady beetles, or to apply a horticultural soap or neem oil.

Snails, slugs and caterpillars also love lettuce. Insecticides are one option, but traps, organic bait and hand picking provide organic solutions to these common pests.

If you notice your lettuce beginning to brown and curl, it could be suffering from a physiological condition known as tipburn. Tipburn is often seen on lettuce when moisture is not consistent. Simply trim the browned lettuce and begin a consistent watering schedule.

How to Harvest Lettuce

You don’t have to worry about how to pick lettuce – it’s one of the simplest vegetables to harvest. Most lettuce can be harvested between 30 to 70 days after planting. When to harvest lettuce depends on the variety and what it will be used for. Really, timing is based on individual preference. Once your lettuce reaches the size you want, it’s ready! Harvesting lettuce in the morning gives you the best flavor.

Knowing how to harvest leaf lettuce is easy. You can either cut the entire bundle off at ground level, or you can remove just a few leaves at a time. Romaine, butterhead and head lettuce are easily cut off near ground level. If you harvest every other lettuce plant, you give the remaining plants room to continue growing.

Growing Different Types of Lettuce

There are four popular types of lettuce grown in the United States: romaine, butterhead, head and loose-leaf lettuce. Although the growing and care process is similar for all types, each lettuce has distinct characteristics in the garden.

Growing Green and Red Leaf Lettuce

Leaf lettuce varieties are the easiest lettuces to grow. Although many people assume red leaf lettuce is grown differently, growing red leaf lettuce is exactly the same as growing green lettuce. You can grow leaf lettuce in rows for nice bundles of loose leaf lettuce, or you can sow it thickly in a garden bed or container for harvest as young, tender lettuce. By harvesting leaf lettuce through trimming it a few inches above the soil, you can get two to three harvests from one planting. Popular cultivars include Red Sails, Tango and Slobolt.

Growing Romaine Lettuce

Romaine, also known as cos, forms tall, tight bundles of thick, sweet lettuce leaves. Reaching up to 20 inches tall, most romaine lettuces take 60 to 80 days to harvest. The extended growing season works because romaine is able to grow without bolting in the warm summers. Growing red romaine lettuce requires the same garden techniques as growing green varieties. Green Towers, Valley Heart and Red Eyes Cos are all interesting romaine cultivars.

Growing Head Lettuce

Crisphead lettuce, or head for short, is the lettuce we know as Iceberg. One of the most popular types of lettuce, salad lovers all over the country often wonder how to grow Iceberg lettuce. Growing Iceberg lettuce requires a bit more care than other varieties. For the best results, plant head lettuce in your fall garden. By avoiding the warm summer weather, you produce sweeter lettuce. In addition to Iceberg, Ithaca, Great Lakes and Crispivo are great head lettuce cultivars.

Growing Butterhead Lettuce

Butterhead lettuce varieties produce tightly folded heads of tender lettuce leaves. The middle leaves are often self-blanching to a delicate white color. Named after the subtle butter flavor, this mild lettuce adds a sweet touch to salads. Try Ermosa, Esmeralda or Nancy in your lettuce garden.

Common Questions About Growing Lettuce

How Long Does It Take Lettuce to Grow?

Lettuce grows fairly quickly. Leaf varieties reach maturity in 30 days but can be harvested as soon as they reach the desired size. Other types of lettuce require 6 to 8 weeks to reach full harvest size.

Can you grow lettuce year ’round?

Garden zones with minimum temperatures in the 60s can grow lettuce all year round. Lettuce seeds germinate in temperatures between 40 to 80 degrees F, depending on the cultivar. Active growth takes place when days are between 60 to 70 degrees. Warmer zones can grow lettuce throughout the winter if you stick to planting lettuce in the fall. Other areas can use modifications, such as cold frames, row covers and greenhouses to extend the growing season.

Can you grow lettuce in hot weather?

Lettuce does not like hot weather. The plant panics and decides that it better produce seeds as quickly as possible. Seed stems develop, and the plant begins diverting nutrients to seed production. This process, known as bolting, produces bitter lettuce.

To reduce lettuce bolting, first look for bolt-resistant lettuce cultivars. Slobolt, for example, can be grown in warmer temperatures. Other gardening tricks to prevent bolting in warm weather include planting lettuce in shady areas, using mulch to cool the ground and conserve moisture, and providing a light mist of overhead irrigation to cool plants.

The Complete Guide On How To Grow Lettuce At Home

July 23, 2021

Lettuce is one of the most versatile and popular vegetables in the world. It can be incorporated into countless recipes or enjoyed by itself. And, one of the greatest things about lettuce is that you can grow it at home! The idea of growing your own food might sound daunting, but by following our simple guidelines, you can learn how to grow lettuce for your entire family to enjoy.

When To Plant Lettuce 

The first thing you need to know about how to grow lettuce is when it should be planted.

Lettuce grows best between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Known predominantly as a spring and fall crop, you can begin growing most varieties in the early spring and early fall. Begin growing your spring lettuce after the last frost has melted and your soil has thawed. 

Succession Planting

If you are interested in how to harvest lettuce so it keeps growing continuously, you should consider succession planting. Rather than planting your lettuce all at one time, begin planting in April and plant new seeds or starter plants every 10 to 14 days to extend your harvest. Just be sure to stop planting at least one month before hot temperatures in the summer begin, to prevent bolting. 

You can follow this same process in the late summer/early fall to have a continuous harvest  until the cool fall temperatures hit. 

How Long Does it Take Lettuce to Grow? 

There are all different types of lettuce, and the length of time they take to grow depends on the types you choose. The most popular  varieties of lettuce people choose to grow are: 

Where to Plant Lettuce

The next most important thing to know about growing lettuce is where to plant it. Lettuce grows best in loose, cool soil with good drainage, but there are also a few other elements to keep in mind when choosing where to plant your lettuce. Check out these frequently asked questions about planting lettuce in your backyard.

How much sun does lettuce need to grow? 

Most lettuce varieties enjoy full sunlight. For the best turnout, make sure you plant your lettuce in an area that receives approximately 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Some varieties can also be grown in partial shade, receiving 4 to 6 hours a day.

If you are planting your lettuce when the temperatures are getting hotter, make sure you provide some shade to prevent the plants from becoming overheated. 

How much space does lettuce need to grow?

If you are planting your lettuce in a garden, make sure you space the plants correctly. Larger heads of lettuce should be planted about 10 to 12 inches apart. Baby lettuce can be planted 6 to 8 inches apart. 

Lettuce can also be grown in any container that is at least 4 to 6 inches deep and has drainage holes. Some of these include:

How to Plant Lettuce

If you want to learn how to grow lettuce, you’ll need to understand the two ways to get started: from seed or from a starter plant. There is no right or wrong way to plant lettuce, but growing from seed will require more time and effort.  

How to Grow Lettuce From Seed

Sow your lettuce seeds in rows, keeping in mind the type of lettuce you are growing and the amount of space it needs. If you are growing several varieties of lettuce, you may want to place markers in the soil so you know exactly where each type has been planted.

Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil, making sure you do not sow them too deeply (so that sunlight can reach them for germination). You may also want to consider sowing your seeds in small pots or even egg cartons indoors to prevent them from drowning in rainwater while they germinate.

How to Grow Lettuce From a Starter Plant

Lettuce starter plants are widely available at most greenhouses and nurseries in the spring and fall. Whether you’re planting lettuce from a store bought starter plant or transplanting your seedlings from indoors, the same rules apply. Keep in mind the distance between each plant as well as the sun exposure depending on which variety you are planting.

Care and Maintenance for Lettuce Plants

Once you know how to grow lettuce, it is important to know how to care for it. In order to keep your lettuce healthy and thriving, there are a few guidelines you should follow. These tips will ensure your lettuce grows well and leaves you with a healthy harvest to enjoy. 

Watering

When watering your lettuce, keep it light and consistent. For the first two weeks after planting your lettuce, you should water it lightly daily. After the first two weeks, you can start watering your lettuce less – twice a week or every four to five days depending on the temperature and shade level.

Try to water your lettuce in the early mornings or late afternoons, so that the mid-day sun doesn’t evaporate the water before it has the chance to soak into the soil. 

Fertilizing

Lettuce does well in nutrient-rich soil. Once the lettuce seedlings emerge, fertilizer can be added to maximize lettuce leaf production. Since the majority of lettuce plants mature quickly, only one dose of fertilizer is usually needed. 

When choosing your fertilizer, make sure it is well balanced. This means equal parts of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate. If you opt for a granular fertilizer, look for 10-10-10 or 5-5-5 mixtures. These numbers represent the amount of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate in the fertilizer. 

Disease and Pest Prevention

Aphids are one of the most common pests for lettuce plants. They are tiny white pests that hide on the undersides of lettuce leaves. Aphids can cause molding and disease by sucking the water and nutrients from your lettuce plant.

There isn’t a systemic insecticide that prevents aphids, which means the best way to repel them is by using natural predators, such as lady beetles, or applying a horticulture soap or neem oil. 

When it comes to diseases, the most prevalent is tipburn. If your lettuce begins to curl and turn brown, it could be suffering from this disease, due to inconsistent moisture. Trim the brown pieces and begin a consistent watering schedule to prevent tipburn from spreading.

Harvesting Lettuce

Now that you’ve learned how to grow lettuce and how to care for it, you are ready to finally reap the rewards of your hard work and harvest your lettuce. After harvest, it will be time to wash and enjoy your lettuce in countless recipes.

When to Harvest Lettuce

Choosing when to harvest your lettuce is partially up to you. Each lettuce variety has a different growing season length, but most are mature within 30 to 70 days. If you’re feeling impatient or craving some leafy greens, you can harvest single leaves whenever you like.  

How to Harvest Lettuce

There are three ways you can harvest lettuce:

Once you’ve harvested your lettuce, store and clean your lettuce properly to ensure it stays fresh and healthy for as long as possible.

Get your own locally grown lettuce and other fresh produce today by visiting Stauffers of Kissel Hill!

How to grow leaf lettuce on a windowsill and garden bed

May 13 Likbez Tips

Follow the instructions and you will no longer have to buy greens in stores.

Where you can grow lettuce

Leaf lettuce thrives in garden beds. In open ground, you can plant both seeds and seedlings grown at home or bought in a store.

If you don't have a dacha or your own plot near the house, lettuce will perfectly fit in a container on the windowsill. You can grow greens from seeds or try rooting a bunch in a pot from the vegetable section.

How to grow lettuce from seed outdoors

The easiest option is to plant leaf lettuce seeds directly in the ground. So you do not have to mess with seedlings, and the result will be no worse, although a little later. It will be possible to harvest in 25-35 days.

It is better to choose a sunny place, without shading. Well, if last year legumes, tomatoes, cucumbers or potatoes grew there. Thanks to crop rotation - the so-called alternation of plants - the risk of damage by pests and diseases will decrease, the harvest will be better. But sowing lettuce in the same bed for two years in a row is not worth it.

When to plant lettuce outdoors

Early varieties can be planted as early as April-May, while mid-season and late varieties can be planted from April to mid-June. When planting early, the main thing is to wait until the ground warms up enough and warm weather sets in without frost.

Lettuce can be re-sown periodically, removing old plants by the roots. So you can get a crop all summer.

How to grow lettuce outdoors

Dig up the soil 1-2 days before you sow the seeds. Make parallel grooves about a centimeter deep or slightly less at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other.

Sow the seeds at about 5 cm intervals, lightly cover with soil and water. If it is cool outside, the beds can be covered with a film until shoots appear.

When the greenery shows through, it can be thinned out if the planting is too dense.

Too dense plantings can be thinned out to give the plants enough room to grow and develop / Photo: tanitost / Shutterstock

How to care for lettuce

Weeding, watering and loosening are the main points in care. On hot spring and summer days, you need to moisten the beds with lettuce every 1-2 days. In cloudy, rainy and cool weather, the intervals can be increased. The main thing is not to let the soil dry out completely. It is better to water in the morning or in the evening, and not during the most sunny hours. Moreover, it is desirable to use a watering can so that moisture gets on the leaves of the plant. After watering, gently loosen the topsoil.

Feeding and special fertilizers can be dispensed with during growth. It is enough to bring mullein or bird droppings into the ground in the fall, and start planting in the spring. Don't worry if you don't have time to prepare in advance. In fertile and not depleted soil, lettuce will feel good anyway.

Remove weeds as soon as they appear so that they do not interfere with the normal growth and development of plants.

How to grow lettuce from seedlings outdoors

Growing lettuce seedlings makes sense if you want to get the first harvest as soon as possible. Small plants planted in open ground will grow leaves quite quickly, and it will be possible to start collecting them in one and a half to two weeks.

When to plant lettuce seedlings

The best time to plant seedlings is March or early April. If you missed the deadline, do not worry: you can buy young plants for planting in the ground even at the beginning of summer.

How to grow lettuce seedlings

It is better to plant lettuce seedlings in peat pots or separate cups - one seed in each. So it will be easier for you to move the plant to a permanent place without damaging it.

Planting lettuce seeds in separate cassettes or pots makes it easier to transplant them without damaging the roots / Photo: Alexander Raths / Shutterstock

If you want to plant lettuce in a common box or container, make grooves in the soil 1 cm deep and at a distance of about 5 cm from each other. Sow the seeds at a distance of about 10 cm. A denser planting will have to be thinned out over time.

Cover the sown seeds with a thin layer of soil and moisten with a spray bottle. Cover with foil and leave for a few days until shoots appear. Do not forget to remove the film every day and air it for at least half an hour, and when the sprouts are visible, remove the cover.

Soil suitable for universal or special seedlings. Feeds are not needed.

When to transplant lettuce outdoors

After about 3 weeks or less, when the plants are strong enough, they can be planted in a greenhouse or outdoors. At the same time, you need to wait until the earth warms up enough, and the threat of frost recedes.

How to care for lettuce

Caring for lettuce planted outdoors as seedlings is no different from caring for lettuce sown directly in the beds. Depending on the weather, plants should be watered from a watering can in the morning or evening every 1-2 days or less. Also, do not forget to loosen the soil and remove weeds.

How to grow lettuce from seeds on a windowsill

Leaf lettuce is a great option for an apartment garden. It is very easy to take care of, and you can harvest the first harvest in about 25 days. It is worth paying attention to early-ripening varieties that feel fine in low light.

No special conditions are needed, although some points are better to take into account. Ideally, if the windows face east or west and are not too shaded by trees. It will be too hot on southern plants, and there will be little light on northern plants.

In autumn and winter, when daylight hours are short, special lamps will have to be used. Without them, the plants will be frail and will not please with abundant greenery.

In late spring, summer and warm autumn, lettuce will feel great on a balcony or loggia / Photo: Ashley‑Belle Burns / Shutterstock

Room temperature is fine. But keep in mind that with constant strong heat, the lettuce will quickly release arrows and begin to bloom, and the leaves will be bitter.

For planting, you can take ordinary pots or larger containers, always with drainage holes and trays. The soil is suitable for store, universal or special for vegetable crops. In addition to it, drainage is needed. It can be expanded clay, broken bricks, small shards of raw clay pots, pebbles, gravel and even foam.

When to plant lettuce on the windowsill

There are no strict time limits when growing indoors. Seeds can be sown at any time of the year.

How to plant lettuce seeds

Place a layer of drainage on the bottom of the container. Spread the soil on top, retreating from the edge of about 0.5 cm. Slightly moisten the ground with a spray bottle, but do not create a swamp.

Sow the seeds not too thick and cover with a layer of soil no thicker than 5 mm. If you do not want to thin out crops, place the seeds in the ground at a distance of at least 5 cm.

Cover the container with film or glass and leave in a warm, shady place.

How to care for lettuce on the windowsill

Air the plantings every day for at least half an hour before germination to prevent mold.

After 4-5 days, when the first shoots emerge from the soil, remove the film or glass. Rearrange the container with plants on the windowsill or loggia. After a week, thin out your plantings so that the distance between plants is approximately 1.5–2 cm. When 2–3 true leaves appear, repeat the procedure again. This time, leave a distance of about 5 cm. You can plant the plants that you have to pull out in a separate bowl.

Rotate the container of lettuce every few days. So it will develop evenly and will not turn out to be one-sided due to the fact that one side will be constantly in the sun, and the other will not.

Don't forget to water. It is needed on average every other day, although it all depends on the conditions. For example, in a warm room or on the southern windowsills on hot days, the earth will dry faster. Therefore, do not leave the salad unattended. At first, while the plants are very small and fragile, it is advisable to combine watering with spraying. Although after, especially in rooms with dry air, this procedure will benefit. In any case, it is better to use water at room temperature or a little warmer, always separated.

Feeding will not be needed if you immediately take high-quality store soil.

How to grow lettuce from a grocery store on a windowsill

The vegetable department often sells lettuce in pots. Due to the fact that plants have a root system, they stay fresh longer and store better. And after cutting the greenery, the plants can be planted and re-harvested from them.

Store-bought lettuce in a pot can be another harvest / Photo: ArtSvetlana / Shutterstock

When to plant a lettuce in a pot

You can give a plant a second life at any time of the year, the main thing is to create the right conditions.

How to plant lettuce in a pot

Cut off all lettuce leaves 1-2 cm from the ground. Carefully separate the pot. It is quite thin and brittle, so it can be cut with a sharp knife or scissors.

Place the roots in a bowl of settled water at room temperature.

When the new leaves are 4-5 cm long, plant the lettuce in a pot or container with an all purpose store soil.

How to care for lettuce in a pot

No problem. Just water the salad about every other day and spray frequently. No need to feed. This is enough to harvest another new crop.

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growing in open ground, in a greenhouse, on a windowsill.

Growing lettuce in the open field does not cause any trouble to the summer resident, and there are many benefits from it. Leaf lettuce contains almost all groups of vitamins and many minerals: potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, iodine, copper, molybdenum, boron, as well as organic acids. The use of lettuce leaves promotes proper digestion, speeds up and normalizes metabolism. Only there is a prerequisite - the leaves should not undergo heat treatment, i. e. the faster they are from the garden, the more useful.

Temperature and humidity conditions.

Leaf lettuce is a cold-resistant, photophilous and moisture-loving culture, like radish. The needs of these cultures are also practically the same. A good solution would be to sow radishes and lettuce in the same bed. They will protect each other from pests.

Lettuce seeds begin to germinate at +4 +5°C, so they should be sown immediately after the snow melts, in slightly warm soil. Seedlings painlessly withstand frosts down to -2 -4°C, and mature plants with 4 - 5 true leaves can withstand up to -6 - 8°C.

The optimal temperature for plant development is +15 +20°C, it is in this temperature range, subject to sufficient soil and air moisture, that active growth of green mass begins. With an increase in temperature over +20 +25 ° C, the plant gives less greenery, withers and shoots an arrow with seeds. Also, at elevated temperatures, seeds do not germinate well, so you should not wait for this summer to sow lettuce.

Lettuce is picky about the sun and light, does not like to grow in deep shade. It is preferable to plant it in open sunny areas in early spring. If you are late with spring planting, then plant lettuce in shady places. The scorching hot sun completely stops the growth of lettuce, so try to shade the seedlings with other crops.

Lettuce cannot develop without an abundance of moisture in the soil and air. Therefore, it is advisable to water it every day, and preferably in the evening (after sunset). Moreover, it is better to water by sprinkling, wetting the leaves with water too, but not in the heat.

What soils?

Leaf lettuce is best grown on loose soils with a lot of organic matter and trace elements, while the acid reaction of the soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline from 6.0 to 7.2 pH.

Acidic, saline, heavy clay soils are not suitable for growing lettuce. Otherwise, the salad is unpretentious, i.e. grows well on sand, and on loam, and on chernozem, and on carbonate soils.

It is necessary to prepare beds for lettuce in advance, from autumn. It is advisable to use those beds on which fertilizers were applied. In autumn, they should be loosened and, if desired, add rotted manure or compost at the rate of a bucket per 1 m 2 .
We leave everything as it is, until spring.

Due to the shallow root system of lettuce, the soil must always be kept loose and moist.

Grades

Outdoor:

In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, we cover the bed with a black film so that the earth warms up faster. After a week, remove the film and sow lettuce seeds.

Important! To speed up the emergence of seedlings above the garden, you can build a greenhouse with a transparent film. Under it will create optimal humidity. When shoots appear, the film can be removed for the day, and covered again at night.

We make grooves up to 2 cm deep, the distance between the grooves is 15 - 20 cm, depending on the type of lettuce. The more bushy the spreading variety, the greater the distance required.
Water the grooves with warm water and scatter the seeds. You can try to sow so that one seed is 2-3 cm, or you can not bother at this stage, and sow with a continuous tape, and then thin out the seedlings. Embedment depth 0.5 - 2 cm.
Fill the grooves with soil.

Important! It is convenient to grow lettuce as an additional crop in beds with radishes, cucumbers, cabbage, zucchini and other crops.

Seedlings should appear in 5 to 7 days. After the appearance of 3 - 4 true leaves of the lettuce plant, it is desirable to thin out. Therefore, we pull out the extra ones, leaving one plant at 5-7 cm.

  • Lollo Rossa,
  • Odessa Kucheryavets,
  • Riga.

    • In a heated greenhouse, lettuce can be grown all winter, in an unheated greenhouse, you can start sowing from March 1st. The soil is prepared in advance, the sowing is carried out shallowly - 0.5 cm is enough, you can fill it with soil or peat. For growing lettuce in a greenhouse, a thermos greenhouse is quite suitable for you. Which is easy to build with your own hands

    Otherwise, the technology of growing lettuce in a greenhouse is practically no different from growing it in open ground. It is necessary to create an optimal temperature and humidity regime and ensure that diseases do not appear. There is only one feature: the greenhouse must be ventilated. Only when the weather is very cold, the ventilation can be turned off.

    In open field conditions, the surface of lettuce leaves and the soil dry out rather quickly in the wind. This does not happen in a greenhouse. Therefore, watering must be done drip and keep the soil surface dry. Falling on wet soil, lettuce leaves begin to rot very quickly. And high soil moisture leads to the appearance of root rot.

    Window sill:

    Any early maturing variety with a less developed root system can be grown indoors all year round. Only in winter, when the sunny day is very short, it is necessary to illuminate with lamps.

    For growing lettuce on a windowsill, ordinary pots for indoor flowers with a height of at least 10 cm are suitable. and sand. We make small indentations in the ground, no more than 0.5 cm. The distance between the holes is 2–3 cm. We spill them with water. Then we put 1 - 2 lettuce seeds in each hole. Cover with soil and water. Cover the pot with cellophane wrap.

    It is best to put the pot on a window sill in a glazed loggia, as lettuce does not like too hot air and high temperatures that can await it on the windowsill above the heating radiator. On the glazed loggia will be just right.

    After 5 - 7 days, lettuce sprouts will appear. We remove the tape. Now you need to make sure that the soil under the lettuce does not dry out. We constantly water the plants and arrange a “shower” from the spray bottle. Definitely only in the evening.

    When the height of the leaves reaches about 8 - 10 cm, you can pluck them and eat them. Approximately 5 to 7 weeks after sowing, the entire lettuce bush can be consumed. Then it is desirable to make a complete cut of the bush, leaving only the root. Just a little more, a week or two, the plant will be edible, tender short leaves will grow, but then it will shoot an arrow with seeds. Then we remove it from the pot completely.

    Care

    Care for leaf lettuce crops consists only in timely watering, loosening the soil and removing weeds.

    Water once a day in dry weather and 2 to 3 times a week in cool and cloudy weather. This is best done by sprinkling after sunset. Do not water the salad from a watering can on a hot day , as wet leaves will wither.

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