Detailed Explanation of Spring Lettuce Planting Time and Methods
Spring lettuce is a vegetable of the Lactuca genus, with leaves making up most of the plant and a relatively short stem hidden by the leaves; the ball-forming type is also called head lettuce. So how should spring lettuce be planted? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction.
1. Planting Time
Spring lettuce, as the name suggests, is a vegetable marketed in spring, so its sowing time is mostly between October and December; after overwintering, it can be marketed in spring and reach people's dining tables. However, because temperatures in the north are generally lower and unsuitable for the growth of spring lettuce, it is generally sown after the soil thaws; of course, greenhouse technology can also be used for planting.
2. Land Preparation and Fertilization
To make it grow well, choose loam soil that is fertile, well-drained, and has not grown cruciferous crops for many years. Before planting, plow it several times, rake it fine and level it. For plots that have never been planted with vegetables, scatter 150 kg of lime per mu before plowing, which can play an excellent role in disinfection and sterilization and kill underground pests. During the second plowing, apply base fertilizer; generally apply 3,000-4,000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer and nitrogen-phosphorus compound fertilizer per mu, scatter them, then plow, and make beds ready for planting.
3. Planting Methods
When sowing, broadcast sowing or drilling can be used, generally using about 25 [units] of seed per mu. Broadcast sowing means evenly scattering the seeds on the bed surface, then covering with a thin layer of soil, watering, and covering with grass to keep warm and moist and facilitate seedling emergence. Drilling means opening furrows on the bed surface at a row spacing of 20-30 cm, evenly sowing the seeds into the furrows, then covering with soil, watering, and covering with grass. Generally, under suitable temperature and humidity field conditions, the seeds will emerge quickly. When most of the seeds have emerged, promptly remove the covering grass to avoid forming leggy seedlings.
4. Seedling Stage Management
When the seedlings grow 1-2 true leaves, start thinning, removing densely growing seedlings. The second thinning is when the seedlings have 3-4 true leaves; remove excessive-growth seedlings, thin and weak seedlings, heartless seedlings, diseased seedlings, and other inferior seedlings, and control the seedling spacing at 3-5 cm. When the seedlings grow to 5-6 true leaves and are more than 10 cm tall, final thinning is carried out, with a seedling spacing of about 6-7 cm. When thinning and final thinning, weed by the way. During drought at the seedling stage, water promptly to keep the soil moist, but do not water too much to avoid root rot. At the same time, topdress according to the growth status of the seedlings. Generally, at the 4-leaf stage, topdress 2-3 kg of urea per mu according to seedling condition, applying it dissolved in water, and before transplanting, topdress about 4-5 kg of urea again.
The above is an introduction to the planting time and methods of spring lettuce. I hope it can help you. To learn more about distinctive early-maturing varieties, please follow us.