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The lettuce plants will be acclimated once they’ve been left outside for a full day. The entire acclimation process should take around a week. Plant the iceberg lettuce six to eight weeks before the last expected spring frost. For example, you could search "average last spring freeze dates for Kansas City." Whether you’re growing leaf lettuce like romaine or head lettuce like iceberg lettuce, aphids love to get to your lettuce before you do. Among aphids, the Green Peach aphid is well-known to farmers and home growers for its range of host plants and resistance to insecticide.
After about ten days, you’ll have many more leaves and probably nearly as many as your stump is capable of producing in its current environment. Harvest lettuce using a sharp knife and bring it inside to store in the fridge in a perforated plastic bag—store iceberg lettuce for up to two weeks without losing quality. If kept any longer, your lettuce may develop brown spots and turn yellow. Depending on the weather in your area, adding a cloche or planting your lettuce in a cold frame may be necessary if your spring tends to be chilly.
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The goal is to keep the lettuce cool and moist; dried out lettuce may develop a bitter taste or rot. If the surface of the soil looks dry, it hasn't been watered enough. Pull the outer leaves off the lettuce seedlings before you transfer them. This will make the plants lighter so their growing roots can support them in the ground more easily. Leave the sprouts at the center of the plants intact; they will go on to form the lettuce heads.
Then, place the tray in a sunny window and keep the soil moist. At that point, remove the outer leaves from each seedling and plant them in a 5 inch deep hole with a tablespoon of fertilizer. Lettuce seeds germinated successfullyFor germinating lettuce seeds prepare seeding tray as usual using seeding tray mix. Place 3-4 seeds in each of the holes and cover loosely (about 3-4 mm) with some coco peat. Water the tray bottom up so that the soil is not disturbed. Place the tray in a shaded are so that lower temperature is maintained.
Growing guide for iceberg lettuce
Although some aphids are somewhat resistant, insecticides are a reliable option for controlling aphids if applied early enough. Scout your garden often for the presence of winged aphids moving into your garden to lay eggs. Additionally, the sharp edges of crushed eggshells cut into the soft bodies of these creates and draws out oils and fats, drying them out. Apply the fertilizer after every week for 3-4 weeks.
Now coming to pest and disease side the good news is that you will not face much problems with lettuce. But in case you still get problems, it will be with sucking pests like aphids. Butter head variety lettuceUnlike what I thought initially of lettuce being just this crunchy green leaf, lettuce actually comes in different sizes, textures, tastes and colors.
Order from our collection of lettuce seeds to grow
The best time to harvest lettuce is when your lettuce looks ready to harvest once it forms the pale round head you’re used to seeing at the grocery store. A full grown Romaine lettuce plant is dark green and compact. Iceberg lettuce is great in salads, wraps, and a variety of other recipes. Growing your own iceberg lettuce is simple, especially when you keep the seedlings indoors for the first couple of months. By keeping the lettuce cool and moist, and growing it at the right time of year, you’ll have crisp, refreshing iceberg lettuce you can harvest right from your garden. This method is particularly preferable for a fall crop, as planting seeds in the heat of summer might stunt their germination and cause the crop to fail before it even begins.
Keep in view the timing that the central stem has just started its formation. This will give enough space to the other remaining plant. Besides ease of access, the pot selection is very easy. Select the clay pot which will help in the evaporation of excess moisture and will keep the ideal state. Simply you have to ponder how much you want to grow. Because the distance between the plants is a minimum of 12 inches to maintain.
You can store lettuce leaves for at least a couple of weeks. Lettuce plants are usually ready for harvest after 6-8 weeks of sowing seeds. The best time for plantation is recommended around early evenings . It will increase the survival chances of your lettuce. After 15 days, reduce watering the saplings by 20% and continue to reduce watering until 48 hours before the day of the plantation. Before you start plantation, ensure your soil bed is perfect for lettuce growth.
Prabal Mallick is an IIT Kharagpur Graduate of 2002 batch. Prabal grows his own food and has a model Organic Terrace Garden at his residence in Bhubaneswar. He currently helps people in organic urban farming by conducting training programs and sharing his knowledge here.
Iceberg lettuce is ready to harvest when the head is about 6 inches in diameter and the leaves become tightly packed. Be sure to consume it in a reasonable time to avoid wilting and lessen the risk of contamination. Mulching regularly will help the soil retain the necessary moisture to keep your lettuce plants thriving. You should also fertilize every 3 to 4 weeks and feed your lettuce plants every 2 weeks, or as otherwise instructed on the label of your lettuce plant feed.
It is simple because it gives freedom of control over a container. Iceberg is a cool crop with the basic need for moisture and sunlight. It also gives quick access to harvest and also helps in the decoration of space. You have to follow the measures for the distance between the plants and for exposure to the sunlight.
When the seeds germinate, they will turn into small seedlings. Thin them out, one 2-3 tiny leaves begins to appear. Thinning means trimming a few plants so that they get a enough space for growth. Get the soil that is well mixed with composted organic matter. Just follow the instruction for sowing and maintenance which will help constant growth and consistent supply.
This will increase the chances of survival for the lettuce without making it limp. Next, sprinkle the seeds 1 inch apart and cover with a thin layer of potting mix. Make sure that the place your garden is situated in gets an adequate amount of sunlight for the seeds to germinate. To get the best yield out of home-grown plants, you need to make sure that the potting mix you use to plant seeds is rich in all the essential nutrients.
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