Lettuce is a salad and healthy vegetable that maintains our health and always keeps it healthy. Hence, we came with this blog where you will get detailed information about lettuce cultivation and growing lettuce from seed.
We all know healthy life is everyone’s need, mainly in this covid era. For this, we do different things, and healthy food is one of them. Healthy food is a major reason for a healthy life. So, without any delay, let’s start.
What is Organic Lettuce?
Lettuce is a leafy vegetable that is part of the Asteraceae family and is a self-pollinating annual. It is indeterminate and will flower for up to 2 months. Organic lettuce is widely consumed all over the World.
Types of Lettuce ( Varieties of Lettuce )
- Loose-leaf (Red and Green Leaf) – This type of lettuce has a delicate taste.
- Cos or Romaine – This type of lettuce is a classic Greek salad with a sweet and crunchy taste.
- Crisp head or Head lettuce – This type of lettuce has a crisp texture and mild taste. It is white on the inside.
- Butter head – This type of lettuce has large green leaves which are sweet and soft.
Organic Lettuce Farming Growing Process & Cultivation
Did you know how to harvest lettuce? Following are the step by step guides of organic lettuce cultivation in India:-
1. Requirements for Organic Lettuce Cultivation
Before starting organic Lettuce Cultivation, make a list of requirements like soil, condition, and plant spacing. These three are major farming requirements, good soil, weather conditions according to lettuce crop, and exact plant spacing are the primary reasons for high productivity and good income.
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Soil Requirements For Organic Lettuce Cultivation
Lettuces likewise need great, loose, rich soil to develop well. Soil that has been altered well with fertilizer or decayed excrement. Soils with a lot of natural or organic matter hold dampness or moisture better, which is vital in keeping these shallow-established veggies cheerful. With warm climates, rich and regular water, and sandy soil, organic lettuce grows well. Planting work on soil carefully and rake the surface smooth.
If you have poor soil in your farming field and want to grow a decent lettuce crop, you have to build a raised bed, fill it with a mixture of manure, compost, or select a container for lettuce planting. Select the container that is at least 4-inches deep.
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Lettuce Plant Spacing
By using a four-bed precision planter, the lettuce leaf is direct-seeded and planting 2-rows on 40-inch beds. The organic lettuce planted from late December to mid-August.
2. Planting Lettuce
There are many ways available which represent the planting of lettuce farming.
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Start Planting Indoors
You can start lettuce planting in late December. Sow lettuce seeds in a container or small areas (Like Greenhouse). The soil ought to be kept cool, under 21° C. Make certain to offer them tons of sunshine, by putting them during a bright window or by beginning them under lights.
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Start Planting Outdoors
Outdoors is the best option for lettuce planting, start seeding when soil is quite cool lettuce will not germinate in hot soil ( temperature over 80°). With the help of tractors and farm equipment, you can sow seed in rows and blocks.
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Transplant Plants
Transplanting is a great idea for lettuce farming. For this, you can buy plants and transplant them indoors. Start transplanting by digging a hole deeper and place the plant Lettuce into the hole. Water them properly to settle the soil and remove air pockets.
3. Growing Lettuce
To grow lettuce in India well, you must consider some other essential aspects like water, fertilization, mulching, and pests. These are vital things which you have to follow for high production.
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Water
Organic lettuce requires a proper water system and moisture to grow well. Lettuce is shallow-rooted and requires almost 95% of water. It will not succeed in dry soil.
The lettuce roots reside in the top 3-4 inches of soil. It requires watering many times per week in hot and dry weather.
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Fertilization
Fertilization is a very important aspect that keeps the soil quality, resulting in good production. If soil is full of organic matter, you may not need to fertilize. Furnishing your lettuce with nitrogen-rich fertilizer will keep your plant developing well and producing regularly. Fish emulsion is an ideal natural compost or fertilizer for lettuces. Use the fish emulsion at half of the suggested dose. It is ideal to use the diluted fish emulsion straightforwardly to the dirt. You can utilize it a foliar feed and make certain to wash your lettuce incredibly well eating it.
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Mulching
The operation of mulching keeps the moisture and coolness in soil. Mulch stops the dryness, wind, and hot sun from penetrating the soil by covering them. The mulch layer protects the soil from erosion, caused by rains and winds.
For organic lettuce, install a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch like straw, wood chips, leaves, and grass around the lettuce, and be sure to leave a little space around the plant to prevent rot. The mulch layer helps retain moisture, keep the soil cool, decrease the measure of weeding, and keep the lettuce clean by keeping soil from sprinkling upon the leaves water.
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Pests
Lettuce farming affected and troubled by very few diseases and pests, and slugs are the biggest enemy of lettuce. Setting up a saucer of beer that controls or traps these types of pests in the net. Aphids are a big problem for lettuce. Water blast from a hose can remove these types of pests.
Cutworms are a big issue for lettuce. An ideal approach to secure against them is to introduce a collar made from thick paper or cardboard around the base of any recently planted lettuce seedlings.
4. Harvesting Lettuce
There are two ways to harvest organic lettuce. One is hand-harvested, and the second is tractors harvested. If you select indoors for planting that hand-harvested is the best way. And if you do farming outdoors that tractor harvested is the best option.
In indoors planting, use a pruning knife and cut heads or pull them out by the roots. For outdoor planting, use tractors with farm equipment to cut lettuce leaves.
Benefits of Lettuce
- Lettuce is a low-calorie content and zeroes fat vegetable which is a good source of vitamins and minerals.
- It helps in weight loss and reduces anxiety.
- Lettuce protects neuronal cells and keeps the heart healthy and contains omega-3 fatty acids.
- Lettuce helps in sleep disorders with insomnia.
- The vegetable has good antioxidant properties, and it prevents cancer cell growth.
- Lettuce reduces blood cholesterol levels, and it is good for diabetic patients.
Which Country Produces Most Organic Lettuce ?
Europe and the USA are the greatest producers and consumers of organic lettuce. The USA has 91,000 hectares, of which 60,000 hectares are in California, and Europe has 80,000 hectares for organic lettuce farming. Apart from these countries, southeastern Australia, Japan, China, Israel, northern Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, India and Peru have large lettuce areas.
Lettuce Local Names List in India
- Salad Ke Patte – Hindi
- Lettuce Keerai – Tamil
- Uvarcheera / Uluva Cheera – Malayalam
- Lettuce Koora -Telugu
- A Lettuce Soppu – Kannada
- Lettuce – Bengali
- A Lettuce – Gujarati
- Saladchi Paane – Marathi
- Lettuce – Odia
These are the necessary information about Lettuce Cultivation Information Guide and growing lettuce from seedlings. We hope you liked this blog and are happy with it. For the latest updates related to agriculture, visit Tractor Junction or stay tuned with us.
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