Lettuce Seedling Cultivation Methods and Suitable Timing Explained

Seedling cultivation is a stage that every vegetable must go through when planting, and good seedlings can help plants grow and develop better. So what methods should actually be used to raise lettuce seedlings, and at what time is lettuce planting more suitable?

Lettuce seedling cultivation methods and timing

The general sowing period for lettuce is from August to February of the following year, with suitable sowing from mid-October to mid-December. Sowing is also possible from early March to early July, but the growth period is short and the yield is low. In winter and early spring, cultivation is carried out in large or small plastic tunnels, while in summer, cultivation is carried out under shade nets or in shaded sheds. For every 60 sq m of seedling land, apply 1500 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 20 kg of superphosphate, then plow and mix evenly and level the soil. For seedling transplanting, each mu of cultivation field requires 20-30 sq m of seedbed and 25-30 grams of seed. When sowing in high-temperature seasons, the seeds must be subjected to low-temperature germination acceleration. First soak them in well water for about 6 hours, rub and wash them, take them out, wrap them in wet gauze, and place them at 15°C-18°C for germination acceleration. Before sowing, water the seedbed thoroughly, mix the seeds evenly with an equal amount of moist fine sand, then broadcast sow, cover with about 0.5 cm of soil, and thin or divide the seedlings in time when 2-3 true leaves appear.

Growth habits of lettuce

Lettuce prefers a cool environment. It is neither cold-tolerant nor heat-tolerant. The suitable growth temperature is 15-20°C, and the growth period is 90-100 days. The seeds are relatively tolerant of low temperatures and can germinate at 4°C. The suitable germination temperature is 18-22°C, and they hardly germinate above 30°C. During the growth period, it likes a cool climate, and grows best at 15-20°C, with high yield and excellent quality. Continuous temperatures above 25°C result in poorer growth, but it is also quite cold-tolerant, and 0°C or even short-term subzero low temperatures do not greatly hinder growth. The root system is well developed, the leaf surface is waxy, and drought tolerance is quite strong, but when cultivated in fertile and moist soil, the yield is high and the quality is good. The suitable soil pH is 5.8-6.6.

Main producing areas of lettuce

The place of origin of lettuce is the Mediterranean coast of Europe. In the past, lettuce was not widely cultivated in China and was mostly grown in the south. With reform and opening up and frequent foreign exchanges, over the past 10 years or more, the planting area of lettuce has gradually increased in some large cities and some open coastal cities. Then many inland cities also introduced trial planting, and it was welcomed by consumers. At present, lettuce has become a fast-growing leafy lettuce in our country. It is cultivated in most of the southeastern coastal areas of our country.

Field management techniques for lettuce

1. Watering: After the seedling recovery water, the number of waterings should be controlled according to soil moisture and growth conditions. Generally, water once every 5-7 days. When spring temperatures are relatively low, the amount of water should be small and the interval between waterings should be longer; during the peak growth period, water demand is high, so the soil should be kept moist; after the head forms, watering should be controlled to prevent uneven moisture from causing head cracking and heart rot; when protected cultivation begins to form heads, watering must both ensure the plant's water needs and avoid excess, and field humidity should be controlled so it is not too high, to prevent disease occurrence.

2. Intertillage and weeding: After planting and seedling recovery, intertillage and weeding should be carried out to enhance soil permeability and promote root development.

3. Topdressing: Base fertilizer should be the main fertilizer. When the base fertilizer is sufficient, no topdressing is needed in the early growth stage. At the beginning of head formation, apply one nitrogen fertilizer with water to promote leaf growth; apply a second topdressing after 15-20 days, preferably with a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer, using about 15-20 kg per mu; when the heart leaves begin to curl inward, apply another compound fertilizer topdressing, using about 20 kg per mu.

The specific details of lettuce seedling cultivation are very important, and every step is related to the final growth and development of lettuce. In addition, the planting time for lettuce is relatively long, and sowing and germination can be carried out over a long period, so the key points everyone needs to pay attention to when planting lettuce in different periods should also be distinguished.