Lettuce, the Most Widespread Leafy Vegetable

In short: Lettuce is sown about 2 cm deep and planted at 20x25 cm spacing (30x30 cm for iceberg) in a sunny spot with loose sandy-loam soil kept below 25 °C, otherwise it bolts early. Leaf lettuce is ready roughly 7 weeks after sowing, head lettuce after 10 to 11 weeks.

Lettuce is the most widespread and popular vegetable in gardens. It's undemanding to grow, looks great in the bed, and can be used to create countless dishes.

Basically, we divide lettuce into three most common types:

• Head lettuce (lactuca sativa) – one of the most popular varieties. It was probably cultivated from wild-growing compass plant. It can be grown year-round and is cold-resistant. In our region, it's grown as an annual plant. It exists in many mutations, differing in shape, color, and size. It can be not only head-forming but also leaf lettuce, which can be picked and processed gradually. It's further divided according to cultivation into early, summer, for greenhouse planting, heated greenhouse, outdoor, and other types.

• Iceberg lettuce - has firm, crisp leaves, and the head resembles cabbage. If you don't damage the leaf heart of iceberg lettuce, the plant will grow new leaves again and can be harvested multiple times.

• Romaine lettuce – has long tasty leaves rolled into a head. It's more demanding of warmth and thrives in humus-rich moist soils. It matures later than other varieties. It can measure up to 45 cm and weigh 3 kilograms. It also exists in baby size. Romaine lettuce can also be used for heat treatment.

Growing Lettuce

The easiest way to propagate lettuce is by seeds. They germinate quickly. During germination, ensure sufficient light so that the seedlings are strong and not too elongated.

We can therefore plant the seeds directly in the bed. Seeds are planted approximately 2 cm deep. Or we can pre-grow the seedlings. For transplanting, choose smaller, compact plants with a firm root system, which will then grow better. Seedlings should have 4-6 true leaves.

When planting seedlings, pay attention to proper spacing between individual plants. In densely planted crops, plants interfere with each other's growth and are much more threatened by diseases and pests.

Seedlings are planted deep enough so that the top edge of their root ball is only slightly covered with soil. Gently but firmly press the soil around the plants. During early planting dates, young plants tolerate cold nights poorly. For protection, you can use thin lightweight fleece until they are well rooted.

Lettuce can be grown in one bed throughout the year. However, we must choose the right varieties:

• Spring varieties – sow in February in a hotbed, plant in March and harvest in June

• Summer varieties – plant directly in the bed in April. Harvest in September.

• Autumn varieties – sow in August in the bed and harvest in October.

• Winter varieties (overwintering) – sow in October and harvest in March

We recommend planting in a sunny location in well-loosened sandy-loamy soil, where the temperature does not exceed 25 °C, as lettuce would bolt unnecessarily early and we don't want that. Maintain regular watering. Preferably between rows, not directly on the plants. We plant lettuce at 20x25 cm spacing, iceberg lettuce at 30x30 cm. Loosen the soil. If planting in a greenhouse, ventilate frequently to prevent mould.

Lettuce is also suitable for smaller gardens. We can recommend a ready-mixed seed mix for a colourful bed – Italian salad meadow

First sowings of plants are among the easy pleasures for children. We can enrich their interest with practical sowing on seed tapes. Seeds are already evenly spaced here and will also save you time thinning the lettuce.

When fertilising lettuce, we pay attention to the amount of nitrates, which can accumulate in the leaves. We can fertilise with ready-made fertilisers designed specifically for leafy vegetables, or for example with nettle slurry, or we can use 5 litres of mature compost per m² of bed.

Leaf lettuce is harvested as early as 7 weeks after sowing. Head lettuce after 10-11 weeks and for Romaine we wait a week longer. Given the speed of lettuce growth and harvest, you can also use free spots in the bed for planting either lettuce heads for quick consumption, or for example loose-leaf lettuce Oak Leaf and enjoy tasty leaves for longer.

Other well-known or less-known types of lettuce:

Lollo rossa, Lollo bianco, Corn salad, Oak leaf, Lamb's lettuce, Rocket, Endive, Red endive, Frisée, Radicchio, Escarole, red and curly varieties

Lettuce consists primarily of water. Therefore it has only minimal calories. It is suitable for diets. It contains vitamin C, B vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, beta-carotene and fibre. It is suitable for pregnant women. It contains so-called folate, which prevents certain developmental defects in the foetus.

Generally, lettuces are suitable for mixed salads (dishes) – hence the name – when several types of leafy lettuces are combined with dressing (yoghurt, herbal). Head lettuce is suitable for more classic preparation with sweet and sour dressing, or fried bacon. Romaine lettuce can also be braised with meat, for rolls, stuffing, in risotto, etc. Very tasty when fresh with a dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.