Leaf lettuces are great choices for growing in containers as well. Row covers and cold frames can allow you to start plants earlier in spring, and possibly even grow them throughout the winter in some areas. [10] Lettuce was considered a sacred plant of the reproduction god Min, and it was carried during his festivals and placed near his images. Lettuce spaced farther apart receives more sunlight, which improves color and nutrient quantities in the leaves. Tracing the history of many varieties is complicated by the practice of many companies, particularly in the US, of changing a variety's name from year to year. Just keep in mind, you will most likely need to water container plantings more frequently. The vegetable has also been linked to outbreaks of parasitic infestations, including Giardia lamblia.[51]. These include fused anthers that form a tube which surrounds a style and bipartite stigma. Not only is it rewarding to pick your own fresh produce, but once picked, lettuce will continue to grow, giving you successive harvests of fresh greens. These are the most forgiving type of lettuce, and also the ones that provide a yield the quickest, so you can eat salads from your garden sooner rather than later. Available in a multitude of varieties and colors, leaf lettuces liven up your garden and your dinner table. [41] Lettuce contains several defensive compounds, including sesquiterpene lactones, and other natural phenolics such as flavonol and glycosides, which help to protect it against pests. Not only is it a lovely addition to the garden and dinner plate, but it’s also fast growing, slow to bolt, and heat tolerant—a gardener’s dream! [55] In contrast, the ancient Greeks connected the plant with male impotency,[10] and served it during funerals (probably due to its role in the myth of Adonis' death), and British women in the 19th century believed it would cause infertility and sterility. They act as “barrier plants” for the lettuce. Names also often changed significantly from country to country. [18] This propensity for crossing, however, has led to breeding programs using closely related species in Lactuca, such as L. serriola, L. saligna, and L. virosa, to broaden the available gene pool. [46] Lettuce is also used as a primary ingredient in the preparation of lettuce soup. Leaf lettuce: Plant 4 inches apart. [31] There are seven main cultivar groups of lettuce, each including many varieties: The butterhead and crisphead types are sometimes known together as "cabbage" lettuce, because their heads are shorter, flatter, and more cabbage-like than romaine lettuces. integrifolia. To harvest, either dig up the whole plant … Butter Lettuce. These lettuces tend to be larger, bolt-resistant and well-flavored. Plant lettuce in compost-rich, well-draining soil. Rcsm Mahavidhalay | Home; About us. The fruits have 5–7 ribs on each side and are tipped by two rows of small white hairs. And experimenting with different varieties will open up your palate to new flavors of this leafy green you never knew existed. So, it’s best to prepare the bed as soon as possible. When thinning out a planting of lettuce, you can move some of the plants around the garden, filling in any empty spots. Longer taproots and more extensive secondary systems are found in varieties from Asia. Once seedlings are a couple of inches tall, thin them to about 4 to 8 inches apart, depending on the variety. Outbreaks Associated with Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce. For four years she worked as a horticulturist, but is now a stay-at-home mom. Temperatures above 27 °C (81 °F) will generally result in poor or non-existent germination of lettuce seeds. [32] With the exception of the iceberg variety, lettuce is also a good source (10–19% DV) of folate and iron (table). Whatever your goals, climate, or cooking needs, there’s a lettuce out there for you. Weeds also act as homes for insects and disease and can make harvesting more difficult. Loose-leaf lettuces, as the name suggests, don’t form tight heads. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. Row covers can also serve well in the heat of the summer to provide shade and delay bolting. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an annual plant of the daisy family, Asteraceae. [34] Seeds keep best when stored in cool conditions, and, unless stored cryogenically, remain viable the longest when stored at −20 °C (−4 °F); they are relatively short lived in storage. In the US, no one type predominated until the early 20th century, when crisphead lettuces began gaining popularity. There are dozens of lettuce types, and they fall into five categories: Batavian, butterhead, iceberg, loose leaf, and romaine. Summercrisp – Also called Batavian or French crisp, this lettuce is midway between the crisphead and leaf types. Also, interplant lettuce with tall summer crops like peppers, corn, and tomatoes, to provide extra shade. The hot summer heat tends to wilt and bolt lettuce. sativa,[1] L. scariola var. One variety, the celtuce (asparagus lettuce) (t: 萵苣; s: 莴苣; woju), is grown for its stems, which are eaten either raw or cooked. [40] Mammals, including rabbits and groundhogs, also eat the plants. Stagger the planting at 1 to 2 week intervals to get harvests throughout the season. This will ensure a continual supply of young plants for an optimal harvest. Depending on the variety, lettuce germinates in temperatures between 40 to 85 degrees F. If you plant lettuce in successive plantings, with 10 to 14 days in between, you’ll have an extended harvest. 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