Iceberg Lettuce Grandes Lago118 – iceberg lettuce seeds

Lactuca sativa - Grandes Lago

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 lettuce.

Head and leaf lettuce are the most commonly grown. According to cultivation methods, they can be divided into early, summer, for greenhouse planting, heated greenhouses, outdoor, etc. Iceberg lettuce has firm, crispy leaves, with heads resembling 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 flavor 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 in terms of minerals, 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 with fried bacon. Romaine lettuce can also be braised with meat, used in rolls, stuffing, 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 hotbed. In March or April, transplant them at 20–25×20–25cm spacing.

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

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

  Overwintering varieties are sown in October directly in the bed.

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

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

• Beds designated for growing lettuce must be well prepared for their cultivation. 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 commonly damaged in this way, but it can also be leaves hidden inside 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 bounded by veins. Spots gradually enlarge, dry out and become necrotic. Treat with Rovral 50 WP or Rovral FLO.

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

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

• Leaf lettuce can be 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.