Growing environment and growing conditions of lettuce

Lettuce growing environment and conditions

Lettuce was originally distributed along the Mediterranean coast of Europe. It was introduced to China in the late Qing Dynasty and is widely cultivated in China's southeastern coastal areas and Guangdong and Guangxi regions. In recent years, the cultivated area has expanded rapidly across the country and it has become a common vegetable on people's tables.

Lettuce Growing Conditions

Lettuce is a long-day crop and prefers an environment with plenty of sunlight. Only then will its leaves grow green and thick. If it is dark and humid for a long time, it will affect the development of leaves and stems. Lettuce prefers slightly acidic soil. The suitable soil pH value is about 6.0. When the pH value is below 5 and above 7, it will not grow well.

Lettuce growing temperature

Lettuce prefers a cool environment and is not resistant to high or low temperature environments. The suitable growth temperature is between 15-20 degrees, the suitable germination temperature is 18-22 degrees, it will not germinate above 30 degrees, and it can tolerate short-term low temperatures of 0 degrees.

Lettuce growing process

The growth process of lettuce includes the germination stage, seedling stage, rosette stage and heading stage. It takes about 10 days from seed germination to cotyledon unfolding, and about 20 to 25 days from the appearance of true leaves to the unfolding of 5 leaves. After that, it takes half a month to a month for the heart leaves to begin to curl up, and it takes about 30-40 days for the heart leaves to accelerate the curling into a hypertrophic leaf head.

Lettuce planting time and method

It is best to plant lettuce from October to December, and avoid overly cold or overheated environments. Before planting, buy high-quality, plump seeds, choose disease-resistant varieties with a higher germination rate, prepare a suitable seedbed, disinfect it, and water it thoroughly for later use. Mix the seeds with sand and sow them into the soil, cover them with soil, and place them in a ventilated environment.