Butterhead Lettuce Attractie

Lactuca sativa - Attractie

Lettuce is a very popular vegetable. It is grown in three types - head lettuce, romaine lettuce and iceberg lettuce. It contains vitamin C, provitamin A, folic acid, vitamins B1, B2, E, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine. Head lettuce was developed by breeding from common weed - common lamb's lettuce, which commonly grows in fields, embankments and generally poorer soils. The name "iceberg" originated from the method of storage. It was chilled with ice during transport to maintain its fresh appearance.

How to Grow Lettuce

• Requires a sunny location. Plants require generous watering. Always water in the morning or during morning hours so that plants have time to dry by evening. Otherwise, there is a risk of spreading fungal diseases, especially lettuce downy mildew. Lettuce is also not suitable for growing in the same place two years in a row. During the growing season, regularly hoe and weed.

• Head lettuce can be sown year-round. In warm regions, we can sow outdoors from March until autumn. In greenhouses, lettuce can be grown year-round.

• Plants require good, freshly manured, loose soil. Lettuce does not tolerate acidic soils; the soil reaction should be neutral to slightly alkaline.

• Before planting, incorporate 3-5 kg of compost/m2 into the soil, lime with a dose of 3 kg limestone/m2, add 1.8 P2O5/m2 and 14g K2O/m2.

• Bacterial soft rot of lettuce initially manifests as sharply defined, dark blackening spots. The first lower leaves that are on the ground are attacked.

  Calcium deficiency causes marginal necrosis of leaves, which gradually turn brown and subsequently die. The outer leaves are most often damaged this way, but it can also be leaves hidden inside formed heads. Treat with Champion 50 WP and perform soil disinfection.

  Lettuce downy mildew manifests especially on older leaves, where light green to yellow-green spots of various sizes appear, often bordered by veins. The spots gradually enlarge, dry out and become necrotic. Treat with Rovral 50 WP or Rovral FLO.

  Plants are also attacked by gray mold and can be eaten by slugs.

  Treat them with suitable preparations against fungal diseases. It is important to observe the protective period before consumption.

• Head lettuce is harvested as early as 10-11 weeks after planting. Store it in the refrigerator and it should be eaten within a few days.