The planting method and management of lettuce, when to plant lettuce, what are the best diseases and insect pests?

Do you like lettuce? Lettuce is one of the oldest known edible plants and is believed to have originated in India and Central Asia. Herodotus wrote about the supply of lettuce in ancient Greece, which was the most popular vegetable in ancient Rome. How do you grow lettuce?

In order to maximize the production of lettuce, it is best to choose a place with good soil drainage and retain some water at the same time. The soil should also be rich in nitrogen and potassium, and the best way to achieve this goal is to use large amounts of organic matter (compost, rotten manure or leaf mold) to loosen and enrich the soil. Strive for pH 6.0 to 6.8.

Most lettuce varieties mature within 45 to 55 days, allowing many gardeners to grow two or even three crops. However, broad leaves and butter leaves can be harvested at any time in the development process. It takes longer for the variety to mature. Romaine takes 75 to 85 days and 70 to 100 days.

A few weeks before the date of the last frost, lettuce began indoors in a peat basin. Provide sufficient sunlight for the seedlings or keep them under artificial lighting until they are ready to enter the garden. Once the soil is ready to work in the spring, transplant the seedlings. If hard freezing is a threat, use fishing bells or covers to protect the seedlings. As the season progresses, set aside some lettuce seedlings to fill the gaps in the garden.

To plant lettuce directly in the garden, just plant seeds 1 to 4 inches deep, tamp them, and then water them. It's that simple! The sowing room is separated according to the packaging direction based on the size of mature lettuce. For example, a crispy head may require a square foot of garden space. As many as nine species of leafy lettuce can grow in the same space.

Keep in mind that lettuce seeds do not germinate in 80 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer soil, so there is no point in sowing lettuce directly in the garden in summer. Start heat-resistant varieties indoors and move lettuce seedlings to the garden, preferably after partial shade, they developed some real leaves.

To maximize the yield of lettuce, the protruding bed warms faster than the surrounding ground. You should be able to start early in spring and start sowing in autumn. To make full use of the limited garden space, grow lettuce around taller plants such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, chili peppers and eggplant. Lettuce helps its neighbors by keeping the surrounding soil moist and cool and keeping weeds sheltered. As the taller plants grow and the days get warmer, they provide the needed shade for lettuce. You can also start lettuce seedlings indoors to fill the gaps in other crops in late spring and early autumn.

Lettuce is usually a disease and insect pest, but you should be vigilant.

The ground tiger and slu are are the most annoying pests. Use paper collars around young lettuce seedlings to keep greedy caterpillars. S g is difficult to control. Sprinkle ash or diatomite on the soil around the plant to stop obnoxious molluscs. Be sure to reapply it after every rain.

The main threat is lettuce rot, which first attacks the lower leaves that come into contact with the soil and then spreads throughout the plant. The best way to prevent fungal and bacterial diseases is crop rotation. Don't grow lettuce in the same bed for two years in a row.