Early head lettuce Amur

Lactuca sativa - Amur

Lettuce is an annual plant that was bred from prickly 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 lettuces, and finally iceberg lettuces.

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

Lettuces contain 10–15% proteins, 15–27% carbohydrates, 3–6% fats, 9–12% fiber. Among vitamins, they have high content of C, E, A and PP, and we must not overlook the content of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, chlorine and magnesium. It has minimal calories, making it suitable for weight-loss diets. 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 wraps, stuffing, in risotto, etc. There are no limits to creativity.

How to grow lettuce

• A sunny location is suitable. During growth, water regularly - 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 in hot months.

• Spring varieties are sown in February in a hotbed. In March or April, we transplant them to a spacing of 20–25×20–25cm.

  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 in October directly in the bed.

  Seeds are sown directly into the soil about 1 cm below the surface. It is advisable to pre-soak the seeds. After germination, plants must be thinned to the above-mentioned spacing. When thinning, avoid covering the lettuce crown.

• Lettuce requires well-drained soil with sufficient readily available nutrients. Soils should be lighter, well-worked.

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

  When fertilizing, it is important to watch out for nitrogen over-fertilization. Dangerous nitrates then accumulate in the leaves. Do not fertilize beds with manure!

• Bacterial rot of lettuce initially appears 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 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 appears especially on older leaves, where light green to yellow-green spots of various sizes form, often bordered by venation. Spots gradually enlarge, dry out and necrotize. Treat with Rovral 50 WP or Rovral FLO.

  Plants are also affected by gray mold and may be eaten by slugs or attacked by aphids.

  Treat them 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 one week longer. Head, butterhead, romaine and curly lettuce must be harvested whole as soon as they grow to the desired size.