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Lettuce

lactuca sativa

INTRODUCTION

Lettuce is a spring, summer and autumn salad staple, and an easy crop to produce so an excellent crop for the beginner.

Lettuce comes in many shapes, forms and colours but is divided into two main groups, those that form a head and heart up, and those that do not and simply form loose leaf.

Iceberg lettuce is slower to grow than loose leaf, so try growing a selection.

Soil Preparation

The growing site should be in a sunny position with organic material added well in advance of planting out.

The ground should be light, fertile, free-draining but moisture-retentive and stone free. Heavy clay soils are not ideal.

Some shade is acceptable in the height of summer.

As an alternative, lettuce can be produced very successfully in large containers filled with compost.

Sowing & Planting

Direct sowing of lettuce straight into the soil is not recommended and is best avoided, it will usually end in disappointment. Leave that method to commercial growers.

The best method of plant raising is to sow individual seeds into modules or sow thinly into seed trays or pots.

Sowing can begin in January for most lettuce varieties and continue until mid-August. Overwintered types such as 'Winter Density' can continue into September for planting undercover in a greenhouse or polytunnel.

Sow little and often.

If sowing into modules, plants can be transplanted straight from the container, if sowing in seed trays or pots, prick out into larger modules first.

Harden plants before transplanting.

Plant out as soon as the weather permits, providing cloche cover in early spring.

Growing & General Cultivation

Keep well-watered during hot weather, lettuce will not appreciate drought conditions. Mulch the crop to help retain moisture.

Ensure the crop is kept weed-free and take care when hoeing not to damage the developing roots.

If the ground has been previously well-manured, further feeding should not be necessary.

Pests & Diseases

Slugs and Snails can be a problem for young plants - for remedies - see the product directory.

Diseases such as Downy mildew which shows as yellow patches on foliage and affected leaves should be removed. To prevent, ensure good air circulation and low humidity.

Botrytis can result in humid conditions, especially during autumn. Try to keep foliage well-ventilated and dry.

Aphids and Lettuce root aphids in particular can be very damaging from mid-summer onwards, Cover with a protective netting or grow resistant varieties.

Tip burn may result during very hot summer weather, especially if the crop is dry.

Cutworms will show up by plants inexplicably wilting. To reduce attacks, keep lettuce crops weed-free.

Sparrows can be a real nuisance to young lettuce, and once they have discovered them, will not leave them alone. Use protective netting.

Harvesting

Harvest lettuce with a sharp knife or scissors.

Hearted lettuce such as butterhead, cos and iceberg should be harvested in a single cut. Loose leaf varieties can be treated as cut-and-come-again and harvested as required.

Lettuce does not store for long so cut fresh as required.