Download LETTUCE - Nichols Garden Nursery

LETTUCE - Lactuca sativa. All lettuce varieties are open
pollinated. Celebrate the great variety of colors, sizes,
shapes, textures and tastes of lettuces. Grow a living quilt of
different lettuces, or a formal "tic-tac-toe" board. Have as
much fun with them in the garden as you can in the kitchen.
Of course lettuces are the basics for innumerable salads. We
also like Bibb lettuce sautee'd with the earliest peas in
spring, with a dash of mint. Or romaine lettuce cut in half
lengthwise, brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with grated
Parmesan cheese and pan grilled to perfection. Our
Crisphead selections are the backbone of summer salads,
remaining sweet and crunchy under adverse growing conditions. 100 grams is only 15 calories and contains Vitamins
A, beta carotenes, It is rich in B-complex group of vitamins
like thiamin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), riboflavins, Vitamin
C, Vitamin K and folates.
Planting Recommendations: Lettuces grow easily in
full sun to partial shade in fertile, well-drained soil. Lettuce
requires regular watering whether it is overhead using a
sprinkler, hand watering or drip irrigation. Drip irrigation
conserves water, keeps plants well hydrated and reduces
weeds in the garden. Start seeding in late winter and sow
every two weeks for a steady supply of lettuce. Plant seed in
early spring and again in fall at 2 week intervals. Lettuce
seed germinates best then temperatures are from 40° to
80˚F. Direct seed by planting seed ¼” deep in well prepared soil that has been amended with a general garden
fertilizer or rich compost. For transplants sow indoors 4
weeks before transplanting outdoors. When young plants
are well established in garden area begin thinning. The
plants should stand 10-12 in apart. Plant every few weeks as
long as weather at harvest time is cool for a continuous supply of crisp, sweet lettuce. Grow lettuce quickly for a crisp
leaf. Keep the soil moderately moist during the entire growing season. For summer production, select varieties described as bolt resistant.
History: The recorded history of lettuce begins in Ancient Egypt at about 2500 BC with realistic drawings of
lettuce in tomb paintings. These early drawings depict
lettuce as either having thick stems and long pointed
leaves or another type that bolts easily, with long narrow
leaves that produce seeds crushed to produce oil. As lettuces moved around the Mediterranean Sea area flat rosetted forms appeared as sports among romaine lettuces.
It is likely that non heading leaf lettuces started as sports
in gardens as well. Stem lettuce was first noted in China in
the 5th century where it is cooked, not eaten raw. Around
the 15 century lettuce moved northward into Western Europe where butterhead, romaine and crispheads were developed and widely grown. Speculation exists that Columbus may have taken lettuce seeds with him to the new
world on his second voyage in 1494. A new lettuce variety
was introduced in 1941 with the release of Great Lakes,
the first true iceberg type, larger and firmer than the
crispheads developed earlier in Europe.
Lettuce is classified into 4 general categories. Butterhead & Bibb: round, folded heads with soft, butter tender
interiors. Easy to grow. Crisphead or Batavian: Attractive firm heads hold well in summer heat. Loose Leaf or
Cutting: Open heads and leaves exhibit a variety of
shapes and colors Romaine or Cos: Form crisp upright
heads favored for Caesar and Greek style salads.
General Planting Information:
Planting Depth: ¼ “
Germination Temp:40°-80°
Days to Germinate: 7-14
Growing Soil Temp: 55°-65°
Spacing: 6” to 12”
Planting Location: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Seed Notes:
Seeds per ounce: Approx. 31250