Plant and growth

Lettuce is a sun-loving cool weather crop that grows best in organic, well drained soil. Sow as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring, then every two weeks thereafter to ensure a continuous supply. Sow about 3 mm (1/8″) deep in rows 45 cm (18″) apart. An even supply of moisture during the entire growth period is imperative for success. Harvest leaf lettuce by either pulling the entire plant or by cutting leaves from the main stem at least 2.5 cm (1″) above the base – this will allow the plant to sprout new leaves. Harvest head lettuce by cutting the head off at the base just below the lower leaves

Since lettuce has very shallow roots, it needs adequate moisture in order to stay tender and sweet, so keep the soil evenly moist. Applying mulch helps conserve moisture and control weeds. For companion planting benefits, grow lettuce with onions, cucumbers, or carrots. The crisper the lettuce head, the less heat tolerant they will be. However, lettuces can tolerate cold, but should be protected from the wind. If leaves begin to wilt, plants need more water. Hand weed as necessary, but be careful with their shallow roots.

Minimum temperature to germinate: 5° C.

Days to germinate: 6-8.

Sowing: March-October. Harvest: April-December.

Sowing and Growing:

Cortese lettuce prefers well-draining soil and partial to full sun. Choose a site that receives at least 4-6 hours of sun per day.

Home Growing

The plant goes through several stages during its growth, as it completes its cultivation through seeds.

Seeding and growing

  Germination directly in the soil:

1. Prepare the soil mixture and plant the seeds at a depth of 1 cm in the soil, where the seeds must be covered with soil for the success of the germination process (Mixture of: 70% cocopeat – 10% vermiculite – 5% perlite – 15% plant compost is preferred. It can be Increasing the proportion of compost to 30% when the plant grows and add amount of organic fertilizer to the soil when planting lettuce so that the roots do better into the soil.
2. Spray the soil and seeds with water using a spray bottle or a spray bottle and cover them with a plastic box or a plastic bag to speed up the germination process, and do not forget to make holes in the plastic box so that the seeds can breathe. Germination takes about 3 to 15 days.
3. Examine the seeds once every 3 days and make sure that the soil has sufficient moisture for the seeds until germination. After germination, the plastic bag is removed and the plant is placed in a sunny place, don’t forget to water them well.

Germination in seedling trays or small containers:

It is preferable to plant in this way to achieve the highest rates of growth and to provide the appropriate conditions for seed germination in a better way, and this also encourages the seeds to grow better.

1. Prepare the soil mix and plant the seeds at a depth of 1 cm in the soil, where the seeds must be covered with soil for the success of the germination process (a mixture of: 70% cocopeat – 10% vermiculite – 5% perlite – 15% plant compost is preferred). By adding amount of organic fertilizer to the soil when planting Lettuce so that the roots grow better into the soil.
2. Spray the soil and seeds with water using a sprayer and cover them with a plastic box or a plastic bag to speed up the germination process, and do not forget to make holes in the plastic box so that the seeds can breathe. Germination takes about 3 to 15 days.
3. Examine the seeds once every 3 days and make sure that the soil has sufficient moisture for the seeds until germination. After germination, the plastic bag is removed and the plant is placed in a sunny place, paying attention to the watering well.
4. After 4 leaves appear, so that there are 3 real leaves, the plant can be moved to larger containers so that there is more space for the seeds to grow and mature.

Growth stage:

It takes about 60 days for lettuce to reach maturity, and during this stage, lettuce needs some important factors affecting their growth.

Therefore, care must be taken to ensure that the soil is rich in various nutrients, such as vegetable compost.

Some Plant Needs:

• Type: Leafy red
• Pot size: 15 – 35 cm
• Maturity Days: 15 cm: 25 cm
• Planting: Feb – April / Sep – Nov
• Planting Depth: 1cm
• Plant Distances: 15 – 30 cm
• Preferred Soil when Planting: 70% Cocopeat 10% Vermiculite 5% Perlite 15% Plant Compost
• Germination period: 5 – 10 Days
• Preferred Soil when Transplanting: 60% Cocopeat 7% Vermiculite 3% Perlite 30% Plant Compost
• Light: Full Sun – Part Shade. Most varieties require a minimum of 2-3 hours daily and for winter variety (1-2 hours)
• PH: 6.0 – 7.0
• Electrical Conductivity (EC): 0.8 – 1.2 Ms
• Total Dissolved Salts (TDS): 512 – 768 PPM
• Color: red