If you want to plant lettuce, you should know several facts about this type of food. From the way in which the seed is cared for to the conditions it requires.
If you have a garden greenhouse, you can learn how to grow lettuce and obtain quality crops at any time of the year. This crop requires a well-controlled environment, where temperature, humidity and lighting are properly regulated.
Depending on space and conditions, structures such as the tunnel greenhouse, the straight-walls tunnel greenhouse, the mini-tunnel greenhouse or the mini-chapel greenhouse can be used, each with specific characteristics that favour lettuce growth.
- Benefits of lettuce
- Lettuce varieties for greenhouses
- How to plant lettuce step by step?
- When to plant lettuce?
- Ideal conditions for planting lettuce
- How to care for lettuce at home
Benefits of lettuce
People choose to eat and grow lettuce for its various benefits. It is a healthy food and contributes to a balanced diet.
- It has flavonoids that improve heart health.
- Protects the intestinal gastric mucosa.
- Promotes sleep, as it has properties that calm the nervous system.
- It helps regulate blood glucose levels.
- Promotes hydration of the body.
- It is good for the urinary system due to its water content.
Lettuce varieties for greenhouses
If you decide to plant lettuce in a greenhouse, you should also be aware of the varieties available. Below, we explain them to you.
Lechuga batavia
Batavia is one of the most consumed lettuces, it has a head shape with curly and abundant leaves. It is usually harvested in a short time because it oxidises quickly, but it is chosen because it can be planted all year round with temperatures between 13 and 19 ºC.
Likewise, it needs good light to grow, but fortunately it is not picky about soils and is successful with basic substrates.
Romaine lettuce
Romaine lettuce is another very important variety. You know it because it has long, firmer leaves, with a dark colour at the tips and a prominent midrib. It is usually planted for harvesting in summer or autumn.
This type contains a large amount of nutrients and is therefore recommended for diets. If you decide to plant them, try to keep your greenhouse temperature between 5 and 25 °C.
Iceberg lettuce
Iceberg lettuce is among the best known types. It is characterised by its tightly packed, round leaves. In the centre, it has a cabbage-like flower, and can be sown all year round, most commonly in spring and summer.
Unlike others, which require 30 cm distance when sown, for this variety you need 40 cm and it copes well with various light conditions.
Lollo rosso lettuce
Last but not least, lollo rosso lettuce is the least known lettuce on the list, but it can be an option in your greenhouse. It has reddish leaves and a different, more bitter taste. It is commonly made in combination with other lettuce varieties for salads.
On the other hand, they require a distance of 25 cm between lettuces and a temperature of between 5 and 15 °C.
How to plant lettuce step by step?
Sowing or planting lettuce requires a careful procedure. Here we will explain all the steps.
Prepare the soil and the right space
Although there are varieties that are less demanding, in general they are foods that need good nutrients in the soil. The ideal is to enrich the soil organically and optimise the space. The soil should be aerated, loose and well-drained.
Selecting the right variety
You cannot plant lettuce if you have not chosen the variety. Depending on when you are going to plant and the conditions in your greenhouse, you can choose some of the types mentioned above. Just remember to organise enough space between each one and check their requirements in detail.
Caring for the seedlings
If you use seedlings, you should take the best possible care of them. Here you should consider the following points:
- They should be at the right temperature, 18 to 21 °C is recommended, as the lower the temperature the slower the growth will be.
- If you are in the colder months, you can use a warm or sheltered seedbed.
- Seeds also need nutrients to grow, so choose a good seedbed substrate.
- The substrate should be kept moist for the seeds to germinate well.
Correct transplanting
Transplanting should only be done once a size of 10 cm has been achieved. In addition, the environmental and weather conditions should be checked. At the beginning of spring, it is ideal to have the crop covered, as in greenhouses, because there are days when the temperature drops and this can affect the lettuces.
On the other hand, when you have the seedlings ready, remember to place the lettuces at the right distance. It is usual to have rows of 30 cm between each one.
Taking care of the light in the greenhouse
The good thing about greenhouses is that you can control the external conditions that reach your plant very well. But always check that the lettuce has direct light for a few hours. And if it is summer, it is best to protect them from extreme heat.
Control the watering of the lettuces
Lettuces require a moist substrate, so they need to be well watered. Watering should be deep and constant, especially during bud formation. However, wetting the leaves is not recommended and ideally drip irrigation should be used to provide excess water.
Keep an eye out for pests
Lettuces are one of the most attractive crops for different pests, and this must be monitored very carefully. You can use insecticides that are ideal for vegetable gardens, as we are planting food for human consumption.
Similarly, you have to be aware of the types of pests you will encounter. These include aphids, black dandelions, whiteflies and green caterpillars.
When to plant lettuces?
Lettuce is usually planted in early spring and into autumn. However, their peaks are a few weeks after the last hard frost in spring and before the autumn frosts. Remember that it should always have controlled temperatures and adequate light, but not too much during the summer.
Ideal conditions for planting lettuce
We have already explained that this type of crop needs a cool temperature, not too hot, but not too cold either. Also, well-prepared soils, no matter if they are in greenhouses.
- Temperature and sunlight: Depending on the season, the temperature should be controlled, but it is recommended that it does not fall below 5 °C and does not reach 30 °C. Likewise, it requires direct sunlight (5 to 6 hours), but more controlled during the summer.
- Good soil: The soil must be well drained, ideally sandy peat, black sandy loams and loams with a lot of nutrients. All of these make it easier to grow healthy lettuces. While its pH in cultivation should be between 6 and 6.8.
How to care for lettuces at home
Here are some tips on how to care for lettuces at home and in your greenhouse:
- Humidity should be controlled. It should be high, but not so high as to drown them. Therefore, check the drainage of your crop.
- Water three times a week.
- Make the most of natural light so that they grow better.
- During the summer, make sure they don’t get too much heat, a couple of hours of sun is fine.
- In cases of extreme cold, it is better to organise the crop so that they do not receive heavy frosts.
If you want to choose a good place to plant your lettuces, you should consider the right greenhouses. At Fertri we have quality structures adapted to different needs.
Si deseas elegir un buen lugar para sembrar tus lechugas, debes considerar los invernaderos adecuados. En Fertri tenemos estructuras de calidad y adaptadas a diferentes necesidades.
There are options such as the tunnel greenhouse, the straight-walls tunnel greenhouse, the mini-tunnel greenhouse or the mini-chapel greenhouse. Choose the one that suits you best and grow the healthiest lettuces.