Full Guide to Sowing Times and Planting Methods for Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) in Spring, Summer and Autumn

I believe everyone is familiar with celtuce (stem lettuce). Its tender fleshy stem and emerald-green leaves are common ingredients in stir-fries, hot pot and malatang, and it is also widely cultivated. Below is the complete guide to the sowing times and planting methods for spring, summer and autumn celtuce. Growers can save it for reference!

I. Basic Information About Celtuce

1. Origin and distribution of celtuce

Celtuce is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant, also known as green lettuce, stem lettuce, asparagus lettuce, celtuce, fragrant celtuce, thousand-gold vegetable, lettuce vegetable and so on. It originated along the Mediterranean coast and is distributed and cultivated throughout China.

2. The value of celtuce

Celtuce is rich in protein, carbohydrates, trace elements and more. Eating it helps to open up and soothe the system, relieve food stagnation and dispel gas, promote urination and lactation, strengthen the body, prevent and fight cancer, and loosen the bowels to relieve constipation. It also helps to some extent with promoting urination, reducing pressure on the atria and relieving tension, and aiding sleep.

3. Varieties of celtuce

According to leaf shape, celtuce can be divided into two types: pointed-leaf and round-leaf. By colour, it is further divided into white celtuce (greenish-white skin), green celtuce (light green skin) and purple-skinned celtuce (purple-green). Generally, the varieties suitable for cultivation differ from region to region. For example, Hunan mainly grows Luochui celtuce, Nanjing grows the Zipi Xiang variety, Hubei has Xiaogan celtuce, Shaanxi has round-leaf white celtuce, Shanghai has small round-leaf and large round-leaf types, Chongqing has Wannianzhuang, and Beijing has purple-leaf celtuce, among others. Growers should choose different varieties for cultivation according to the local growing environment and market.

II. Complete Guide to Sowing Times and Planting Methods for Spring, Summer and Autumn Celtuce

1. Sowing time and planting methods for spring celtuce

(1) For spring celtuce and celtuce that needs to overwinter, choose varieties that are cold-tolerant, highly adaptable and slow to bolt; raise seedlings in a greenhouse from December to March of the following year, and raise seedlings in the open field from mid-February to late March.

(2) Remember that before spring celtuce seedlings emerge, uncover the covering late and cover it early, do not ventilate, and raise the bed temperature. After the seedlings emerge, ventilate appropriately, keeping the bed temperature at 12-20°C during the day and 5-8°C at night. Uncover the shade net early and cover it late. Thin the seedlings once at the 2-3 true-leaf stage, with a spacing of 4-5 cm. Five to six days before transplanting, increase ventilation to harden the seedlings.

(3) Spring celtuce is planted out about 25 days after emergence. After planting, water to settle the roots, then choose sunny weather for intertillage, watering and fertilizing.

2. Sowing time and planting methods for summer celtuce

(1) Summer celtuce should be sown on cloudy days in April to May each year. After sowing, cover well with plastic film and remove it after the seedlings emerge.

(2) From late May to early-to-mid July, cover with a shade net using a small arched shed or flat shed until the seedlings emerge or reach 2 true leaves. On heavy rainy days, cover with a shade net to prevent rain from washing away the soil. Sow 5-10 g per 10 sq m. Thin the seedlings once before the 2 true-leaf stage, and once at the 4-5 true-leaf stage, with a spacing of 10 cm. Vigorous seedlings can also be planted at high density with a plant and row spacing of about 10 cm.

(3) In addition, after each thinning, final thinning and transplanting recovery of summer celtuce, apply decomposed dilute manure water together with watering. On rainy days, clear the ditches to drain waterlogging. About 15 days before planting out, apply 0.50% urea water once. About 25 days after final thinning or transplanting, tender plants can be harvested successively for market.

3. Sowing time and planting methods for autumn celtuce

(1) Autumn celtuce is generally sown from July to September each year. After sowing, cover with rice straw, and after the seedlings emerge, cover with a shade net and water with liquid fertilizer morning and evening.

(2) Autumn celtuce is planted out about 25 days after emergence, choosing a cloudy day or the afternoon for planting. After planting, also water to settle the roots, keep the soil moist, and apply dilute fertilizer frequently.

4. Before the stem of celtuce has fully thickened, tender plants can be harvested at any time for sale on the market. If seeds are to be saved, it is best to save seeds from overwintering spring celtuce.

The above is all the content on sowing and planting celtuce. In addition, during cultivation, pay attention to attacks by downy mildew, gray mold, aphids and other pests and diseases, and control them promptly to ensure yield and quality.