![]() ![]() Direct-seeded plants should be thinned when two or three true leaves have formed. A single coated seed placed every 2 to 3 inches, or two seeds spaced 1 inch apart every 12 inches, has worked very well. Present recommendations are to use coated seed. "Leaf" types are currently mostly transplanted from greenhouse-grown plugs. Head lettuce is most commonly direct seeded in the field. Slightly less N and P is required for the later plantings of June and early July. Use 150-175 lb/A for Summertime and Ithaca grown on mineral soils, and for leaf lettuces planted at 6-9 inches in-row spacings. Nitrogen: 75-100 (N) lb/acre for heading types developed for California production. The following recommendations are general guidelines.įor the early crop, band 2 inches to the side and 2 inches below the planting depth the following: The lighter coatings are preferred.įor the most current advice, see Nutrient Management for Sustainable Vegetable Cropping Systems in Western Oregon, available as a free download from the OSU Extension CatalogĪ soil test is the most accurate guide to fertilizer requirements. Pelletizing facilitates precision seeding in the field. Pelletized seeds are available in which the seed is vigorized, or conditioned, so that it germinates rapidly even under high temperatures. Seed is available pelletized with various types of coatings. Consult your seed dealer about the availability of primed seed. Advances in priming and coatings can improve stand establishment under adverse conditions. Pelleting greatly improves precision planting and reduces thinning costs. Use only mosaic-indexed seed from a reliable seed source.įor direct field seeding 1/4 to 1/2 lb/acre is required when a precision seeder is used with unpelleted seed. ![]() Lettuce seed numbers approximately 400,000 per pound. Lettuce is planted from April through mid-August. Crop growth is usually good between 61 and 65 F. ![]() Germination occurs at as low as 40 F and may not occur at temperatures of 90 F and over unless irrigation is used to cool the soil. For successful head lettuce production, soils should be managed to reduce compaction as much as possible. Soils that compact easily, or are compacted can adversely affect head lettuce growth. ![]() Good moisture-holding capacity with good drainage is important, especially for heading types. Sandy peats and mucks, deep black sandy loams and loams are the most suitable types of soil. See the Vegetable Variety Selection Resources page to find varieties that have been shown to perform well in the Pacific NW. These differences will not usually be discussed in this production guide. Although varieties and production practices are fairly similar to conventionally marketed lettuces, several important differences exist in production, harvest timing and handling, and the way the harvested product is processed and marketed. The supply of this profitable and popular product is dominated by a handful of producers because of the large capital investment that must be made to produce this product and meet the exacting demands of the produce industry. Supermarkets are devoting increased space to cut lettuce and lettuce mixes of many types, some complete with salad dressings. Leaf types are grown for local and regional markets primarily, although, with proper cooling (vacuum cooling), packaging and refrigerated truck transportation, these lettuces may also be distributed nationally. "Batavian" varieties are sometimes classified as loose-heading "crisphead" types. is crisphead (iceberg or head lettuce) which is best adapted for long distance shipment. The predominant lettuce grown in the U.S.A. Two others, stem and Latin are rarely found, although stem lettuce may be found in Oriental food stores. production, these are crisphead, cos (or romaine), leaf, and butterhead. This guide is directed to mineral soil production unless indicated otherwise.įour morphological types of lettuce dominate U.S. Production practices and varieties are quite different for each soil type. Lettuce is produced on both mineral and muck (organic) soils. ![]()
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