Whether you are amarket farmeror just a backyard nurseryman , chief lettuce is a luscious and of import craw for you all summertime . Though we tend to think of dinero during the shoulder seasons , there is a lot to be said about a tonic salad with slicedtomatoesand peppers or simply a fresh bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich throughout the summer . The good news ? Growing good summer head lettuce is potential — if you do it the right way .
There are some elements of growing summertime lettuce that can be challenging and some that can be surprisingly directly - forward , but listen each of the below tips and you’re able to have head lettuce on your market or dinner board all summer long .
1. Select the Right Lettuce Varieties
Perhaps obviously , your favorite winter simoleons might not make the best summer lettuce . What works the best in the summer is a variety that has been engender to defy high temperatures and very long days . Several mixed bag bill themselves this way in seed catalogue , so it is moderately easy to go after them down by searching through your favorite come purveyor ’s catalog to happen the precise crop you are look for . southerly Exposure has some as well as Johnnys , in high spirits Mowing and Fedco . Our personal favorite is Muir , but the samara here is to try out several and not just bank on one or two . Your conditions will be different so hedge your stake !
2. Germinate Lettuce in a Cool Place
Lettuce does not really spud in temperature above 75 degrees F , so it is decisive for summertime lettuce that you do not render to germinate it directly in the soil , or in the glasshouse . The idealistic post is under cover or in your basement . In the oestrus of the summer we will put lettuce trays in our cooler overnight then germinate them in a shadowy area over the next two day . Make trusted to get them into light at once when you see sprout and keep the moist .
3. Harden Off the Plants
When the plants are almost ready to transplant , entrust them in lineal the sun for a few days to harden them off . verify to keep them misted and cool during this period , but this will quash transplanting shock when they go in the garden .
4. Transplant in Wet Conditions
check that when planting that the ground and the soil occlusion or cell with the lettuce in it are wet when transplantation . This will bring down transplantation jolt and insure more succeeder .
5. Provide Shade
If you have some elbow room to shade ( even planting under a minor tree ) that can be a great style to get your plant build in those first two week . The first two weeks are critical for success . Once build , you could slay any shade cloth . Around 30 % shade is okay for most region .
6. Mist Often
We wish to gently mist our plants in the centre of the sidereal day to cool them off . Lettuce wo n’t just become bitter if it gets too spicy , but it will also either dash or get sear . So that luminousness obscure will prevent that and also keep the plants at a temperature they like to mature ( below 80 degrees F ) .
