How to Grow Celtuce for High Yields? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods
Celtuce is a very common vegetable. Celtuce is also called lettuce, but many people still think they are not the same plant, so remember this from now on and don't make a fool of yourself again. Celtuce contains a large amount of vitamins, and celtuce leaves are also a very delicious vegetable. So today what we are going to learn is how to grow celtuce so that it can be high-yielding. Below let's take a look at the methods brought to us by Qinongwang.
1. Choose Good Seeds
After many years of cultivation, there are more and more celtuce varieties. For different regions, different climates and growing environments, varieties with various resistances have been developed. So when choosing seeds, we need to pay attention: if planting in spring, choose early-maturing varieties, such as red celtuce and white celtuce; but if planting in summer and autumn, you need to choose heat-tolerant varieties, such as heat-tolerant Erbaipi celtuce. Also, choose suitable varieties according to the local climate, because the quality of the variety is the foundation of its yield level.
2. Choose and Prepare the Land
The choice of planting site is the basic condition for celtuce growth. The soil for planting celtuce cannot be clay or relatively heavy soil, because celtuce has poor absorption and cannot grow in this kind of soil. So it is best to choose soil with good permeability, such as sandy soil or loam. Second, the seedbed should be chosen in a section with higher terrain and good drainage. When preparing the land, plow deeply and level the ground, make the soil fine, and open good water ditches in the field to facilitate drainage and water diversion.
3. Sow at the Right Time
The planting time of celtuce varies somewhat among different regions, and the four seasons vary greatly across regions of our country, so the best sowing seasons are March and April in spring and around September in autumn, because the temperature in these periods is basically stable at around 25 degrees, and the growth cycle of celtuce is about 40 to 45 days, so it can just be harvested before high temperatures and frost arrive, and therefore the yield and quality will not be affected. We evenly scatter the seeds on the seedbed, then cover the seeds with soil, cover them with a layer of livestock manure or decomposed fertilizer, and finally cover with a layer of plastic film, which can promote seed germination. When the seedlings grow two leaves, the film needs to be uncovered, otherwise they will be burned.
4. Reasonable Close Planting
When the celtuce seedlings grow about six leaves, we can transplant them. Usually we choose to transplant on the morning of a cloudy day or after rainfall, so that the survival rate of transplanting will be guaranteed. We plant them at a spacing of 30 cm per plant and 40 cm per row. Reasonable density can increase the yield of celtuce, and at the same time it is also more convenient for later management.
5. Scientific Management
The main things in field management are fertilizing, weeding and watering. In growing celtuce, we mainly want its stems to grow, and usually three topdressings are needed. The first is about ten days after planting, mainly using manure and urine water for irrigation, and at the same time a little urea can be mixed in. Second, wait until the celtuce seedlings grow to about 25 cm for the second topdressing, mainly with urea. The last time is when the celtuce stems swell, still mainly with urea, and at the same time spray an appropriate amount of potassium fertilizer, because if no fertilizer is applied, the flesh of celtuce will be relatively hard, affecting the quality of celtuce. Also, each fertilization needs to be combined with watering and weeding, so that celtuce can fully absorb nutrients and promote its growth.