The Latest Methods and Techniques for Growing Lettuce Seedlings Explained in Detail
Lettuce is a vegetable grown from seed, and it generally has to be raised as seedlings before being transplanted. With direct sowing, the seedlings come up unevenly, or some do not come up at all and need to be reseeded. Raising seedlings can solve this kind of problem. When should seedlings be raised, what preparation work should be done, then how should it be done, and what kind of management is needed after the seedlings emerge - these are the main parts of this article. Friends who need this information can read on and learn about it.
1. Sowing Time
Lettuce is generally cultivated in summer and autumn, so sowing and raising seedlings should be done about half a month in advance, so that they can be transplanted into the field at exactly the best time for planting. However, in summer some areas can also cultivate it, such as some high-altitude areas with lower temperatures. Greenhouses can also be used for off-season cultivation, and plastic tunnels can advance the cultivation time.
2. Seed Soaking and Germination Promotion
Soaking seeds and promoting germination can make the seeds sprout more easily. In addition, promoting germination can make the seeds emerge more evenly. Most seeds are sown after they have cracked and shown white, so they sprout quickly. Soak the seeds in clean water for 5 hours, then drain them before promoting germination. Since the seeds are rather small, there is no need to soak them in hot water. For germination promotion, you can use the method of layering them in clean, moist sand. Put a 20 cm layer of sand, place the seeds on it, then cover with 2 to 3 cm of sand. Put ice cubes and water in a thermos bottle, add the seeds to promote germination, and change the water once a day. Or wrap the seeds in a moist cloth and place them in a 15 to 20 degree incubation box, rinsing them once a day.
3. Sowing and Raising Seedlings
Sow directly in the seedbed, broadcasting evenly over the seedbed, or sow in opened furrow rows; either way, the sowing must be even so that thinning the seedlings is easier. After sowing, cover with 1 cm of soil. After germination promotion, cover with a shallower layer of soil than with direct sowing to make sprouting easier. In spring and autumn, when the temperature is favorable, you can raise seedlings without protection, or you can raise seedlings in a plastic tunnel, which is faster. Young sprouts need moisture retention, but direct sunlight should be reduced, so seedlings can be raised in a shaded place.
4. Management After Emergence
After sowing, water to make the soil moist, and this must be maintained continuously. It is best to water morning and evening every day, but the amount of water should not be large. Spraying is better, as it allows the seedling leaves to absorb water quickly, yet will not cause waterlogging in the soil. After the seedlings emerge, leafy vegetables are prone to soft rot, downy mildew, damping-off and similar diseases. Reduce humidity; scattering rice husks can absorb moisture and prevent disease. But first pull out the diseased plants, then spray carbendazim and other agents to eliminate the disease. When the seedlings grow to 5 cm, you can thin them according to how dense they are, keeping the robust seedlings and pulling out the rest. When they have 5 leaves, they can be transplanted and set out.
Raising seedlings is the prerequisite for planting. Whether seedlings are raised well or poorly directly determines the growth conditions in the later stage, so the seedling-raising period deserves attention. Choosing healthy, high-quality seedlings is the prerequisite for a high yield and high quality. Not much more to say here. Thanks for reading. Support.