How and when to plant lettuce

Suitable planting time for lettuce

Romaine lettuce prefers a slightly cool environment. Judging from its growth habits, the best time to sow is between late September and mid-November. If it is grown in a protected area, it can also be planted from late April to mid-May.

Planting methods and key points of cabbage lettuce

1. Sowing and seedling raising

First, wrap the lettuce seeds with a wet cloth and place them in an environment of 15-20℃ to germinate. They will germinate in about two or three days. When raising seedlings, you can use nutrient cups filled with soft, breathable, fertile substrate. Plant 2-3 seeds in each nutrient cup. After sowing, cover with a thin layer of soil and water thoroughly.

2. Seedling management

Romaine lettuce seeds will sprout two or three days after planting. If sown in summer, you need to set up a shade net. After the seedlings emerge, you need to water them every morning and evening. You can thin out the seedlings two weeks after sowing, remove the weak seedlings and tall seedlings, and only keep one strong seedling. Urea can be applied when the seedlings are 15 days old. The seedling period is generally between 25-30 days.

3. Land preparation and planting

Before transplanting, apply enough base fertilizer to the plot and prepare the land to ensure that the soil is loose and fertile. Control the spacing between rows and plants during transplanting, with row spacing of 30-35 cm and plant spacing of 25-30 cm. After transplanting, water the crops in the morning and evening to ensure that the soil is moist. If a shortage of seedlings is found, seedlings should be replenished in time.

Points to note in daily management of lettuce

The growing period of lettuce is long and it has a great demand for fertilizer. Topdressing should be done in time. Quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer should be applied 4-6 days after planting to promote root development. When it starts to form heart, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be added to ensure sufficient nutrients.

In addition, during the growth period of cabbage lettuce, many weeds will grow around it. The weeds in the field should be removed in time to avoid competition for nutrients. If pests and diseases are seen, spray pesticides for treatment as soon as possible.