When is the best time to plant lettuce?

The entire growing cycle of lettuce is about 40 days. It prefers cool climatic conditions and its seedlings can withstand low temperatures as low as minus 5 degrees Celsius. The optimal temperature range for lettuce seeds to germinate is 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. Let’s learn below: When is the best time to plant lettuce?

When is the best time to plant lettuce?

The sowing time of lettuce varies according to the season. Seedlings are generally raised in spring from February to April, while in autumn it is recommended to be planted from late July to late August. In small family vegetable gardens, the sowing time for non- heading lettuce can be more flexible, and the autumn sowing period can even be extended to mid-September.

Cabbage lettuce is sensitive to temperature. The suitable growth temperature is 11 to 18 degrees Celsius. Especially during the heading period, 17 to 18 degrees Celsius is the best temperature. If the temperature exceeds 21 degrees Celsius, the lettuce may not form a head properly; and when the temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, the growth of lettuce will be seriously affected. Therefore, when planting, you should avoid high temperature weather and understand and adapt to the growth characteristics of lettuce.

The planting time for lettuce varies slightly from region to region and from variety to variety. For example, in spring and summer, you should choose varieties with strong heat resistance; in autumn and winter, you can choose head lettuce or loose-leaf lettuce varieties.

Lettuce can be planted by direct sowing or transplanting. When planting, it is recommended to keep the row spacing at about 20 cm and the plant spacing at 10 to 12 cm. Before sowing, the seeds should be treated with low temperature for 48 hours, and they can be sown when they begin to germinate.

Lettuce Planting Method

Seed pretreatment: Soak and germinate the seeds before sowing. First, soak the seeds in cold water for 12 to 1 hour, then wrap them in a moist cloth and germinate them in a cool environment of about 20°C until the seeds show bud tips, then they can be sown.

Seedbed preparation: Choose a place close to a water source, with good drainage and shade to build the seedbed. The soil in the seedbed should be rich in organic matter, have good water and fertilizer retention capabilities, and be loose and fertile.

Sowing: Irrigate the prepared seedbed first, then sow the seeds evenly in the soil and cover with a thin layer of soil.

Seedling management: Water frequently during the seedling stage, especially in the morning and evening on sunny days, to keep the soil moist. When the seedlings grow 2 to 3 true leaves, pay attention to adjusting the spacing between seedlings, removing weeds, and gradually removing the covering to allow the seedlings to gradually adapt to the external environment.

Preparation of planting site: Choose fertile land for lettuce cultivation, apply about 5,000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu, then plow and level it to form a bed surface, and plant three rows every 120 cm.

Transplanting: When the seedlings reach 10 cm in height and have 4 to 5 true leaves, they can be transplanted. The row spacing is kept at 40 cm and the plant spacing is 30 cm.

Water and fertilizer management: Three top dressings are required after planting. The first time is 15 days after the seedlings have been grown, the second time is in the early stage of heading, and the third time is in the middle stage of heading. Fertilizer is mainly composed of decomposed animal manure, and urea can also be added in appropriate amounts. Fertilizer concentration should be from light to strong. About 10 kg of urea can be applied per mu each time, or potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be sprayed on the leaves. Under protective facilities, reasonably control the frequency and amount of watering according to factors such as season, air temperature and ground temperature.

Harvesting: Harvesting of lettuce can be flexibly carried out according to market demand. Harvesting standards are relatively loose, but early harvesting may affect yields. Head lettuce should be harvested when it is firm, harvesting one head at a time as it matures.

The above is an introduction to the time and methods of planting lettuce. Planting lettuce is actually very simple, and it can be planted as long as the environmental conditions are suitable.