Butterhead lettuce Maikönig

Lactuca sativa - Maikönig

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

How to Grow Lettuce

• Requires a sunny location. Plants require abundant 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 fungal diseases spreading, especially lettuce downy mildew. Lettuce is also not suitable for growing in the same location two years in a row. During the growing season, regularly hoe and weed.

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

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

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

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

  Calcium deficiency causes marginal leaf necrosis, which gradually browns and subsequently dies. The outer leaves are most commonly 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 mainly on older leaves, where light green to yellow-green spots of various sizes appear, often bordered by veins. Spots gradually enlarge, dry out, and necrotize. Treat with Rovral 50 WP or Rovral FLO.

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

  Treat them with suitable fungicides. 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 consumed within a few days.