Lettuce farming guide

Scientific Name: Lactuca sativa

Varieties: Bibb,Black Seeded Simpson,Buttercrunch,Butterhead,Cos,Crisphead,Green Leaf,Head,Iceberg,Leaf,Looseleaf,Mesclun Greens,Oakleaf,Parris Island,Red Leaf,Red Salad Bowl,Romaine.

With the variety of colors, shapes and flavors available, your salads may never be the same.

Lettuce is adaptable to many growing conditions, but likes it cool - around 10°C to 18°C. Generally, better results will be obtained by growing during cooler portions of the growing cycle.

Planting conditions
Lettuce grows best in full sun, though excessive heat can cause plants to bolt to seed, or leaves to wilt.

In warm conditions,select a partially shaded location, or one that receives primarily eastward exposure to mitigate the potentially damaging effects of excessive heat upon lettuce.

Lettuce is tolerant of a wide range of soils, but prefers well-drained,cool, loose soil with plentiful moisture and pH 6.2 to 6.8.

Sensitive to low pH. Lime to at least 6.0. To encourage tender and tasty growth, make sure location is rich in organic compost matter. Amend prior to planting if needed.

Sowing- Direct seed or transplant in early spring, as soon as you can work the soil. To get an early start, prepare beds the previous fall by working in manure or compost and raking smooth to leave a fine seedbed.

Seeds need light to germinate; sow at a very shallow depth by covering with a thin layer of growing medium.

Direct-seeding-Sow seed 1/8 inch deep, 1 inch apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. When plants have two or three true leaves, thin to 12-inch spacings for crisp head varieties, 6 to 10 inches for other types.

You can also lightly broadcast seed (particularly of looseleaf varieties) in a patch instead of a row.

Transplants-Sow in 1-inch cells 3 to 4 weeks before transplanting outside. Harden seedlings by reducing water and temperature for 3 days before transplanting.

Space crisp head transplants 12 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart. Space other varieties 6 to 10 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart.

Use row covers to protect very early plantings from cold, to protect young plants from insects, and (supported by hoops) to shade crops when warm weather arrives.

Make succession plantings every week or two, and grow several varieties with different maturity dates for a continuous supply.

Moisture, stress, and high temperatures, particularly at night, encourage bolting. As the season progresses, plant more bolt-resistant varieties.

Locate plants where they will be partially shaded by taller nearby plants, latticework or other screen.Lettuce has a shallow root system. Keep soil moist to keep plants growing continuously.

Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds (unless slugs are a problem). Fertilizing can be helpful to promote faster growth, especially a fish emulsion type that is not high in nitrogen that can cause greens to become bitter. Water lightly but consistently.

Harvesting
Many varieties of lettuce can be harvested as microgreens, baby greens, leaves, or entire plant.

Ideally, greens should be collected early in the day, before the onset of midday sun, to prevent wilting.

Microgreens are usually harvested within 2 weeks after germination by cut entire plant just above the ground, once it is around 3-4" tall.

Baby greens are collected when between approximately 28-35 daysafter germination, and are collected. Looseleaf, butterhead and romaine types can typically be harvested as baby greens, while iceberg lettuce is not suitable as baby greens.

'Mature leaves' can be harvested from all type of lettuce except for iceberg any time in the growing cycle, until a central stem begins to form.

This indicates the plant is preparing to bolt to seed, and greens collected from such plants are often too bitter for consumption.

Entire plants can be harvested in mid-development while the leavesare still plump and tender, but before a stem has started to form.

Many varieties of looseleaf lettuce can be harvested numerous times during a single growing season after being cut approximately 1" above the ground.

Some other general guidelines when collecting the entire plant

-Leaf lettuce can be cut as soon as it is large enough to use, usually in 50 to 60 days from planting.

-Cutting every other plant at the ground will give remaining plants more space for growth.Romaine and Butterhead lettuce can be harvested in about 60 to 70 days from planting.

-Iceberg (crisphead) varieties take longer and should be harvested as soon as a head develops but before outer leaves turn brown. If seed stalks appear, pick the lettuce immediately and store in the refrigerator to prevent bitterness.

-To store lettuce first wash it well by immersing in water and swishing it around. Place it in a colander and rinse then drip dry.

-Do this especially if you have used chemicals on your crop. When it is dry place it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator or wrap in paper towels and place in a bowl in the refrigerator.

-It keeps best at 32°C with 96% humidity. Avoid storing lettuce with apples, pears or bananas as they release a natural ripening agent that will cause brown spots and the leaves will decay quickly.

Seeds storage: Rubbing separates the plumes and chaff from the seeds. When completely dry, shake the flower stems in the bag.

Rub the seed heads between your hands to release more seeds. Put the seed through a fine mesh sieve that allows the seeds through but retains the chaff and plumes; this will give relatively clean seed.

Winnowing is difficult because seeds and chaff are about the same size and weight. For extra cleaning use reverse screening, with a smaller mesh that retains the seed but lets small pieces or chaff and plume through.

The dust produced during cleaning causes irritation to the lungs and eyes. If cleaning large amounts use a mask and goggles or clean outdoors.

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