How To Grow Lettuce
HOW TO GROW LETTUCE
It can be a rewarding experience to successfully grow lettuce to meet your household needs. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) belongs to the family Asteraceae. It is not related to the Cruciferae such as cabbage. Lettuce is a very good source of dietary fiber, calcium, iron and vitamins A, B, C and E .
Varieties
There are two major types of lettuce grown in T&T, namely Loose-leaf lettuce and Crisp head (Iceberg) types.
Loose Leaf
Crisp head
Because lettuce roots are very thin and delicate and are
very susceptible to drying out, the soil should be well tilled and sufficiently
drained but must allow for good water retention. Utilize organic manure and
incorporate 5g (1 tsp) of hydrated agricultural lime in each planting hole.
Planting
Pest and Control
Pest
Leafminer
Symptoms
This is an insect that tunnels its way through the leaves and makes unsightly marks.
Control
- Good weed control
- Avoiding excessive use of fertilizers
- Use insecticides that are safe to human health and the environment
Pest
Leaf Spot (Cercospora)
Symptoms
This is a fungus that causes lesions to appear as small yellowish spotson the older leaves.Diseased areas then spread and the spots turn brown.
Control
- Ensuring there is proper drainage
- Good weed control
- A safe foliar fungicide
Fertilizers
- Immediately after transplanting, apply 5g (1 tsp) of a granular NPK fertilizer such as 12:24:12 to each plant to encourage root growth. Be sure to place this fertilizer at least 5cm (2 in) away from the plant.
- On the 7th, 14th and 21st days after transplanting apply a granular NPK fertilizer e.g. 20: 10: 10, at a rate of about 1–3 tsp (5–15g) per plant depending on the health of the plant.
- Alternatively a foliar fertilizer can be used weekly e.g. 20:20:20 at a rate of 5g (1 tsp) to 4 litres (1 gal) of water. Apply 125 ml (1/2 cup) of this mixture in the leaves and root area of each.
Harevesting
- Lettuce leaves may be harvested as needed, however, heads are best at 4 –6 weeks after transplanting.
- Heads are harvested by making a sharp clean cut at the base of the plant. You can also maximize on harvesting lettuce with the cut and come again method.
Nice method. I'll give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI knew about the neem oil. I have a cousin that's crazy about it. Have you ever heard about the use of H202 for fungus and other plant diseases? Also, does one need to cut off the growth with the seeds on a chandon beni plant in order to facilitate proper growth of what is already there?
ReplyDeleteYes. Hydrogen Peroxide can be use as it can kill molds such as powdery mildew caused by any number of fungi. It also attacks the black, sooty mold caused by aphids. When applied to the plant, the chemical's two oxygen atoms attach to the fungus and oxidize or burn it. Mix 1 pint of water with 4 to 5 tablespoons of household hydrogen peroxide (3 to 9 percent strength) in a spray bottle. Shake to mix thoroughly, and spray it on the affected plant daily. Regarding the chandon beni plant, i will not recommend cutting of the seeds but instead use NPK fertilizers to facilitate healthy growth. Hope it helps so that you can HEALTHY HARVEST your crop!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome blog ... where were you all the time? ... I'm Excited now
ReplyDeleteGreat. Thanks. Where were you when my tomato plants were dying 😊
ReplyDeleteNice time to start my home garden 😊
ReplyDeleteGreat blog��. Question though, I've tried my hands at planting lettuce but notice that some taste bitter, what's causing that? Am i harvesting to early?
ReplyDeleteWhat causes lettuce to be bitter at times is based on where your lettuce is situated in your garden. Keep your lettuce in a cool place, out of the hot sun to prevent it from bolting quickly and becoming bitter. The term "bolting" is when a plant grows quickly or become stress. Nutrients and watering also plays a significant role in avoiding bitter taste in lettuce. However, too much chemicals can add to the bitterness of your lettuce. Follow the fertilizing guide to assist you on that. Cultural practice that is commonly used is placing your lettuce in cold water for ten minutes upon harvesting. Hope this vital information work for you so that you can Healthy Harvest your lettuce!!!!
DeleteOh great thanks, Ill definitely try this
DeleteTried to grow lettuce earlier this year. Was a big failure. I’m am going to incorporate your techniques in my next attempt. Thanks for the details
ReplyDelete