Early Butterhead Lettuce King of May I.

Lactuca sativa - Král Máje I.

Lettuce is an annual plant that was bred from compass lettuce. It is grown in both head and leaf forms with smooth, rounded leaves of light green color. There are several types of this vegetable: romaine lettuce, semi-romaine lettuce, butterhead lettuce, leaf lettuce, and finally iceberg lettuce.

Head and leaf lettuce are the most commonly grown. According to cultivation, they can be divided into early, summer, for greenhouse planting, heated greenhouse, outdoor, etc. Iceberg lettuce has firm, crisp leaves, the head resembles cabbage. Romaine lettuce resembles Chinese cabbage. Gourmets often consider it the tastiest lettuce. Iceberg lettuce is valued for its crispness and firm head. It is characterized by excellent taste and outstanding crispness.

Lettuce contains 10-15% protein, 15-27% carbohydrates, 3-6% fat, 9-12% fiber. In terms of vitamins, they have high content of C, E, A, and PP, and among other substances we must not overlook the content of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, chlorine, and magnesium. It has minimal calories, making it suitable for weight-loss diets. Butterhead lettuce is suitable for classic preparation with sweet and sour dressing, or with fried bacon. Romaine lettuce can also be braised with meat, used for rolls, stuffing, in risotto, etc. There are no limits to creativity.

How to Grow Lettuce

• A sunny location is suitable. During growth, water regularly - rather in smaller doses, more frequently. Regular weeding of the bed is necessary. Never grow plants in the same location for more than 2 years in a row. Mulching lettuce with organic material is advisable. It prevents weed growth, maintains moisture and lower temperature during hot months.

• Spring varieties are sown in February in a cold frame. In March or April, transplant them at 20-25×20-25cm spacing.

  Summer varieties are sown directly in the bed in April, the final plant spacing should be 25×30 cm.

  Autumn varieties are sown directly in the bed in August, the final plant spacing should be 25×25 cm.

  Overwintering varieties are sown directly in the bed in October.

  Sow seeds directly into soil approximately 1 cm below the surface. It is advisable to pre-soak the seeds. After germination, plants must be thinned to the above-mentioned spacing. Avoid covering the lettuce crown when thinning.

• Lettuce requires well-drained soil with plenty of readily available nutrients. Soils should be lighter and well-worked.

• Beds intended for lettuce cultivation must be well prepared. When preparing beds, incorporate 3-5 kg of compost/m2 into the soil, lime with 3 kg of limestone/m2, and add 1.8 P2O5/m2 and 14g K2O/m2.

  When fertilizing, it is important to be careful about nitrogen over-fertilization. Dangerous nitrates then accumulate in the leaves. Do not fertilize beds with farmyard manure!

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

  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 the formed heads. Treat with Champion 50 WP and perform soil disinfection.

  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 become necrotic. Treat with Rovral 50 WP or Rovral FLO.

  Plants are also affected by grey mold and can be eaten by slugs or attacked by aphids.

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

• Leaf lettuce is harvested as early as 7 weeks after sowing. Head lettuce after 10-11 weeks and romaine lettuce a week longer. Butterhead, romaine and curly lettuce must be harvested whole as soon as they grow to the desired size.