Especially for smaller households, lettuce can offer advantages over lettuce because it can be harvested in more determinable quantities and eaten fresh. If you decide to stagger the sowing of lettuce every four weeks from around March, you can harvest it continuously in summer and autumn.

Choosing the right variety

There are now various types of lettuce that differ not only in color but also in taste. That's why you should already consider your personal taste in nutrition when selecting the seeds. The most popular types of lettuce in shops and garden beds in this country are:

  • oak leaf
  • baby leaf
  • Lollo Bionda
  • Lollo rosso
  • finger salad

Prepare the sowing

Usually, lettuce is not sown directly outdoors or in balcony boxes, but is first grown in bowls and pots from the end of February. This is also due to the fact that lettuce is very sensitive to night frosts and can therefore only be grown outdoors from around mid-May. Either special potting soil or your own garden humus should be used as the seed substrate for the seed trays, since potting soil is usually enriched with artificial fertilizers.

Lettuce belongs to the light germs

A circumstance that is common to almost all types of lettuce in the world is very important for the germination phase of the lettuce. Since these vegetables germinate in the light, the seeds must not be covered with soil for an optimal germination rate. However, to facilitate the establishment of an even moisture balance around the seed, it can be lightly covered with translucent grains of sand.

Keep the distance between the plants

When the seeds germinate after about a week or two, the plants first need plenty of sunlight and a constant water supply. After about two weeks they can be pricked out in the bed or in the window box. Even if lettuce does not develop heads, you should still ensure a minimum distance of five to ten centimeters between the individual plants for optimal development.

tips and tricks

Only ever harvest individual leaves from the lettuce and leave the strong heart leaves. In this way, the plant lives on and can be harvested constantly for several weeks.

Category:

Vegetable garden