Content
Lettuce is an annual herbaceous plant whose foliage is edible. It is used for serving, as well as as an addition to vegetable, meat and fish dishes. You can grow it at home on your windowsill. In the warm season, they are grown on the site by direct sowing of seeds in the ground or by seedlings.
Description and types of lettuce
Lettuce is a leafy herbaceous plant with an annual growth cycle. It is consumed mainly in the USA and European countries. The crop is characterized by rapid ripening and good yield. In Latin it is called "Lactuca". It is related to the root "Lac", which is the word for milk. The fact is that due to damage to the shoots, plants secrete milky sap.
It is a self-pollinating plant, which makes it easy to grow. Lettuce belongs to the Asteraceae family. There are quite a lot of varieties of this plant. They are quite diverse, have different shapes and sizes, reaching heights from 10 to 180 cm.The most common ones include:
- Leaf lettuce - has green or burgundy leaves, and it does not have a head. The edges of the leaf plates are jagged, they are collected in a rosette.
- Head lettuce - resembles a head of cabbage in shape with a loose structure. It increases in size gradually as it grows. The foliage is serrated or has smooth edges. The heads of cabbage are round, but can also be flattened.
- Bubbles is a salad with wavy leaves, the taste is sweetish, with nutty undertones. It has several sub-cultivars, such as frisbee - with dense heads of bright green leaves. Green bowl is a leafy variety with rich green foliage with wavy edges. Lolly bionda is a lettuce with decorative wavy leaves. They are mainly used to decorate flower beds and flower beds.
- Batavian Red Sales - dark green foliage with a hint of red. The surface is wrinkled, the shoots grow rather slowly. There is a variety of ore d'Yvcre - this is a winter variety of lettuce with red leaves.
Farms also grow four varieties of lettuce - chamomile, stem, capitate and puff. There is also lettuce, which is cultivated commercially. It is grown on an industrial scale in many countries around the world.
Advantages and disadvantages
The leaves go well with vegetable, fish and meat dishes. Lettuce is often used to garnish dishes.
Lettuce can be grown on the plot or on the windowsill
If we review the advantages of the plant, we can highlight several obvious advantages:
- lettuce has a rich chemical composition;
- can produce crops all year round;
- resistant to cold;
- has a pleasant taste;
- has an attractive appearance;
- it is not demanding of care, so even a novice gardener can cope with forcing;
- can be planted on the windowsill.
This culture has no disadvantages. But some may find its taste unusual. It is herbaceous, with nutty undertones, and can be slightly bitter. Another disadvantage is that some people may experience allergic reactions. Moreover, such cases are very rare - almost everyone can consume lettuce in moderate quantities.
Composition and calorie content of lettuce salad
Lettuce salad contains quite a lot of vitamins and other valuable substances:
- A, group B (B1, B2, B5, B6, B9), C, E, K, PP
- potassium;
- magnesium;
- phosphorus;
- manganese;
- copper;
- selenium;
- zinc;
- calcium;
- iron.
The calorie content of lettuce per 100 grams is only 15 kcal. Nutritional value for the same weight:
- proteins 1.4 g;
- fats 0.2 g;
- carbohydrates 1.6 g.
The composition also contains dietary fiber in the amount of 1.3 g per 100 g, which is almost 7% of the daily requirement.
Lettuce is low in calories, so it can be used during any diet.
What are the benefits of lettuce?
Thanks to its rich chemical composition, lettuce has certain beneficial properties:
- low-calorie, dietary product;
- calming effect;
- creates a feeling of satiety;
- useful for gastritis, soothes the gastric mucosa;
- diuretic effect - removing excess fluid, relieving swelling;
- expectorant effect;
- normalization of sleep;
- help with atherosclerosis;
- improved digestion;
- strengthening the immune system;
- prevention of constipation;
- assistance in losing weight;
- increased milk lactation;
- restoration of heart function.
Harm and contraindications
Vegetables can cause harm only when consumed in excessive quantities - diarrhea, digestive disorders, allergic reaction. You should not eat lettuce if you have the following diseases:
- colitis;
- enterocolitis;
- gout;
- urolithiasis disease;
- exacerbation of intestinal diseases;
- bronchial asthma.
How to grow lettuce
This crop can be grown in different ways - planted in open ground, obtained seedlings with subsequent transplantation, or simply on a windowsill. In the latter case, it is necessary to organize the correct conditions - temperature, lighting and humidity levels. The basic rules and step-by-step instructions are described below.
Planting seeds in open ground
Lettuce seeds are sown in open ground from the end of April to the first ten days of May, when the temperature outside is consistently above zero. In the south, this can be done as early as early April. The site should be sunny, light partial shade from bushes is allowed. The bed is located on a small hill; lowlands should not be chosen, since water accumulates there. The soil should be loose and fertile, with a neutral reaction.
Lettuce is planted at a distance of 15-25 cm
The soil is prepared in advance - it is dug up and compost or humus is added in an amount of 10 kg per 1 m2. If there is a lot of clay in the soil, it is necessary to cover the same area with sawdust or sand up to 3-5 kg.
The seeds must first be prepared:
- Place in a salt solution (a tablespoon per 1 liter) and remove those that float.
- Etch for 20 minutes in a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate.
- Place overnight in a solution of a growth stimulator, for example, Zircon or Heteroauxin.
Then proceed like this:
- Mark several rows on the bed no more than 1.5 cm deep.If you grow head varieties of lettuce, the planting pattern is 25*25 cm, and if leafy varieties are grown - 15*15 cm.
- Plant the seeds in the holes.
- Sprinkle with a little soil.
- Spray from a spray bottle.
- If the temperature outside at night drops below +10 degrees, cover with a film with holes.
- It is removed periodically for ventilation and also for watering.
Growing seedlings
To speed up the ripening of lettuce, it can also be grown as seedlings. Seeds are sown in the first half of March, in Siberia - towards the end of the month. You need to purchase them from trusted suppliers and first study reviews. Preparing lettuce seeds for planting is exactly the same.
The soil can be purchased at the store (universal soil for seedlings) or made from garden soil with peat, humus and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. It is disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 1 l) or placed in the freezer for several days. After this, it is advisable to apply Azobacterin or other bacterial fertilizer.
Boxes for growing lettuce are also disinfected with potassium permanganate. Several holes are made in them, then a layer of small stones is laid out, and fertile soil is placed on top of them. Next, make several rows 1 cm deep at a distance of 10 cm and plant the seeds at intervals of 2-3 cm.
Place on the windowsill, the room temperature should be normal - 20-22 degrees. Cover the top with glass or film with holes and periodically open for ventilation.Water with a sprayer so often that the soil always remains slightly moist.
Lettuce can be grown in small containers
10-14 days after the appearance of mass shoots, lettuce plants are planted in peat pots or plastic cups. After a few days, a complex fertilizer is applied, for example, “Ideal” or “Kemira Lux”. Continue to water and, if necessary, illuminate with phytolamps installed at a height of 50 cm.
Growing lettuce on a windowsill
When growing lettuce on a windowsill, it is necessary to create suitable conditions:
- temperature not lower than +16 degrees;
- stable lighting for 12-14 hours a day;
- constant level of humidity.
If you comply with all these requirements, you can grow lettuce all year round. As a rule, several containers are prepared and sowing is planned every 10-15 days so that greenery appears continuously.
The soil is prepared according to the same rules as for seedlings - the mixture is purchased in a store or made independently, and pre-disinfected. Lettuce seeds are sown in rows no more than 1 cm deep with an interval of 10 cm. Planting can be done densely, since the grains are very small. They are placed in furrows and sprinkled with soil, after which they are moistened with a spray bottle.
The boxes are placed on window sills, the room should be at room temperature, and it should be ventilated periodically. First, containers with lettuce are covered with film, and after sprouts appear, they are removed. If there is enough light, you can grow it in the usual way, and in winter, late autumn and early spring they provide lighting for 2-3 hours in the morning and evening.
It is necessary to organize regular watering of lettuce, since the foliage dries out quickly due to lack of moisture.At the same time, the soil should not be too wet, otherwise the roots of the lettuce may be seriously damaged. After the emergence of seedlings, they are thinned out, leaving only the strongest. After another 1-2 weeks, complex mineral fertilizer is applied.
Further care
To grow beautiful lettuce, like the plant in the photo, you need to organize proper care. Experienced summer residents recommend adhering to the following rules:
- Regular watering of lettuce - at least once a week, and in hot weather - twice as often. The water should be warm, pre-settled. It is poured directly under the root, avoiding getting on the leaves. It is best to do this early in the morning or late evening.
- Periodically loosen the soil so that the lettuce roots receive enough oxygen. At the same time, weeding is done, removing weeds.
- Lettuce seedlings are thinned out after the appearance of 4-5 true leaves. It is necessary to ensure that the minimum interval between plants is 20 cm. If you miss this time and wait until 6-7 leaves appear, thinning will be dangerous, since the root system can be damaged and the plants will suffer from soil microorganisms.
- If it is not possible to water regularly, lettuce plantings are mulched with straw, hay, pine needles or other natural materials. This will allow the soil to remain moist longer, and will also inhibit the growth of weeds and even repel some pests.
Lettuce needs regular watering
Lettuce can be harvested after 20-30 days or a little later - this parameter depends on the period. It is advisable to take the greens in the morning, before watering. Moreover, they tear it off along with the roots, but if you need to leave the plant, you can simply trim it with a sharp knife.If grown on a windowsill, lettuce will produce greens regularly - you can harvest 10-15 harvests in a year.
Pests and diseases
The main diseases of lettuce include fungal infections:
- gray rot;
- downy mildew;
- white rot;
- blackleg.
For prevention, it is necessary to treat the seeds and observe the watering norm. For treatment, fungicides are used - “Maxim”, “Fundazol”, “Skor”, Bordeaux mixture and others.
Among the pests that pose a particular danger to lettuce are wireworms, leaf aphids and slugs. Insects are controlled with insecticides - “Decis”, “Fitoverm”, “Aktara”, “Match”. To repel slugs, sprinkle eggs, nutshells, mustard powder or ground red pepper next to the beds.
What can you substitute for lettuce?
Lettuce can be replaced with similar plants:
- iceberg lettuce;
- Chinese cabbage;
- leaf salad;
- watercress.
Leaves should only be used fresh. They crunch nicely and give an interesting taste. After heat treatment, a significant part of the vitamins is destroyed, and the health benefits of such food will be minimal.
Conclusion
Lettuce is an unpretentious plant that can be grown at home, producing up to 15 harvests per year. There are several types and varieties, so you can choose different crops - cabbage and leaf. They are used for serving and as an ingredient for preparing salads and other dishes.
