Planting lettuce is a very practical, delicious activity and can even be done indoors or in an apartment. This vegetable has dozens of varieties, able to please the most diverse palates.
With great adaptability and growth, its leaves can be used in the preparation of salads, juices and even hot and extremely refined dishes.
Do you want to learn how to plant lettuce in different places, always maintaining its quality? So, follow this article until the end and take note of our special tips on the subject!
What are the types of lettuce?
Before giving tips on how to plant lettuce, it should be noted that there are different types of this vegetable, which is certainly one of the most consumed in the world.
Each of them has completely different texture, flavor and visual aspects. Check out the main ones:
Lettuce:
Iceberg lettuce takes its name from the fact that its first cultivations were carried out in the United States.
Features:
- Rounded and plump shape;
- Very crispy leaves;
- discreet taste;
- Light green color (with almost white leaves);
- Ideal to use in sandwich and hamburger recipes as it adapts well to high temperatures.
Curly lettuce:
Curly lettuce is the so-called “traditional lettuce”, that is, one of the types most seen in salads in restaurants or at home.
Features:
- Long leaves with curls at the top (which is why it is called curly);
- Marked green color;
- Tasty and with a crunchy texture;
- They are not cabbage;
- Ideal to serve in fresh salad dishes, accompanying vegetables and other vegetables.
Curly lettuce is the most consumed type in the country. It is a source of mineral salts, mainly calcium and vitamins, especially vitamin A.
Curly Alface
Frisée lettuce is a lesser-known type of this vegetable, but it is very elegant and tasty.
Features:
- Thin and long leaves, with irregular shapes and quite crispy;
- Light green color;
- Characteristic and more bitter taste;
- Ideal to accompany dishes with more striking flavors.
Smooth lettuce
As popular as crisp lettuce, smooth lettuce is one of the types of lettuce that are widely consumed in Brazilian salad dishes.
Features:
- Loose leaves that do not form buds;
- Soft texture and mild taste;
- Characteristic green coloring;
- Ideal to accompany fresh ingredients like other vegetables.
mimosa lettuce
It is a very delicate type of lettuce, also called “baby lettuce” because of its leaves.
Features:
- Small leaves with a more round shape, resembling tree branches;
- Characteristic green coloring;
- Delicate flavor and smooth texture;
- Ideal for decorating dishes and for salads with mild flavors.
romaine lettuce
Romaine lettuce is the leaf used in one of the most traditional salad recipes: Caesar Salad. It is also an elegant and beautiful leaf to serve in other preparations.
Features:
- Long leaves and crepes;
- His foot does not form plump heads;
- Dark green color;
- Ideal for recipes with sauce (such as caesar salad) or to use as “boats” with fillings.
purple lettuce
Purple lettuce is a very popular type of this leaf, due to its distinctive color.
Features:
- Long, irregularly shaped leaves;
- Dark purple and green color;
- Mild flavor and soft texture;
- Rich in antioxidants;
- Ideal to decorate dishes, to use in juices or to prepare pesto sauces, made with basil, garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese, pecorino cheese and pine nuts.
The main advantage of red lettuce in relation to other types is the presence of anthocyanin, a substance that gives the vegetable its characteristic reddish color and brings several health benefits, such as preventing some types of cancer and strengthening the cardiovascular system.
Plant lettuce in pots
Now that you know the types of lettuce and have chosen which one you want to plant, let’s go to the first option: the planting in pots. It’s quite simple.
To carry out the process, you will need a container, with something around 10 to 15 centimeters long, enough to house two seedlings of the vegetable and optimize the cultivation.
Then, just fill the pot with quality soil, preferably already fertilized, and moist.
Lightly press the soil with your hands to settle it properly. However, leave a space of about 5 centimeters remaining, for watering and adding “mulch” (leftovers of leaves, stems and droppings) later.
Planting lettuce in a pot can be done through seeds or directly from seedlings.
To plant the seeds, just make a hole in the soil using your index finger. The ideal is in a depth of approximately 0,5 cm, placing two to three seeds. Then, just water and place the pot in a well-lit place.
Always remember to keep the soil moist, at least until the seeds germinate, which is important to ensure that your lettuce plant grows healthy and fast.
Also, avoid adding fertilizer until the tenth week, so the roots don’t burn and end up killing the plant. When it’s showy, it’s harvest time!
But, before planting your lettuce plant, check out some important tips. You will learn the entire planting process:
Source: We are Green.
Some simple tips for caring for your lettuce:
- If you find the lettuces very wilted, remove the pot from the sun and place it in the shade, always remembering to pay attention to the watering, so that the soil does not become dry;
- Do not leave lettuce in direct contact with strong wind;
- Planting in pots can be done by sowing or transplanting seedlings. Each method has its own precautions, which should not be neglected;
- Always invest in a professional, nutrient-rich soil mix.
Plant lettuce in a pet bottle
If you don’t have a plot of land available to plant lettuce, but you have a space that receives light and sun from the windows, know that it is possible to grow it simply and quickly, using PET bottles.
For this, you will need:
- A bottle of at least 2 liters;
- Scissors;
- Faca;
- Scotch tape;
- Lettuce change.
The first step in planting is to split the bottle in half, separating the base from the spout. Then, fit the top (upside down) to the bottom, securing it with the tape.
Wet soil will be placed on the inverted part and irrigation water will be stored at the bottom.
Planting lettuce in a pet bottle is a sustainable way of reusing disposable materials you can save, take care of your health and still contribute to nature.
Then, just make a hole approximately 20 centimeters deep in the soil (using a knife) and place the seedling.
The bottle can be kept on the floor, on tables or hanging, with the help of threads suitable for vases.
In the video below, you will learn how to plant a vertical vegetable garden with plastic bottles, without the risk of outbreaks of the mosquito that transmits dengue and at the same time organic and sustainable. In addition, it is self-irrigating:
Fonte: World Clik.
Learn to plant lettuce in beds
To prepare the bed for planting lettuce seeds, leave a space equivalent to 30 centimeters between each hole, so that the plants do not touch each other or interfere with each other’s growth.
Then, follow these instructions:
- Ensure the soil is light, sandy and humus-rich;
- Keep the soil always moist, especially while the seedlings are small and with shallow roots;
- It is possible to plant the lettuces directly in the soil or in semi-buried pots;
- Make sure there is sunlight in the area.
One of the most traditional ways to plant lettuce is in beds. One of the main care is with the soil.
In this case, there is no secret: transplant the seedlings or plant the seeds in holes with a depth of approximately 10 centimeters.
The “harvest” should be carried out when the lettuce plant reaches about 30 centimeters and has an average of eight leaves.
Did you know that it is possible to plant lettuce in water?
Not all people have the space or conditions to plant vegetables at home. However, there is always a little space left in a corner of the balcony or kitchen, right?
Well, know that these small spaces are more than enough to keep some lettuce seedlings close by.
Have you ever imagined that it is possible to use the root of the lettuce plant you bought at the supermarket? Just put it in a bowl of water.
The process is quite simple and can start in an unexpected way: during the preparation of a beautiful salad. Follow:
- Cut the root of a lettuce plant and set it aside (remember to ensure a height of 8 centimeters);
- Remove the excess leaves from each layer, until you get a root of approximately 4 centimeters;
- In a container or glass with water, place the root and make sure the stem is completely covered.
Ready! Now just keep an eye on your lettuce plant.
In this planting method, it is necessary to change the water every two days to prevent the growth of fungi.
In about 10 days, you will have a showy, rapidly growing lettuce. Then, it is possible to keep it in the container or pass it to a vase.
Did you like this idea? So, take the opportunity to read our article on how to make a vegetable garden at home.
Learn to plant hydroponic lettuce
The first step in planting a hydroponic lettuce is to place the vegetable seeds in a plastic cup (with substrate) with holes in the bottom, to let the water drain more easily.
This is because, through the system, the plant does not come into contact with the soil and receives the mineral salts it needs in a balanced proportion, dissolved in water.
Almost all hydroponic growers opt for lettuce due to its easy adaptation to the system, with high yields and cycle reductions compared to conventional soil cultivation.
Then, it is necessary to water the plant periodically, so that the first sprouts come out, being able to replace the water, in the sequence, with a nutrient solution, until they are transferred to the hydroponic system (about two or three weeks after the beginning of cultivation).
You can assemble your hydroponic system in a simple way using, for example, PVC pipes, just follow the instructions below:
- Drill small holes along the entire length of the tube and keep the sides clear;
- Using hoses, connect the system from a water tank or reservoir, where the engine will also be. The hose must pass through the PVC pipe and return to the tank;
- The next step is to transplant the shoots, one for each hole previously opened;
- Remember that such shoots must be in tiny pots, which will be attached to the holes in question;
- The water with the nutrients will run through the roots of the plants, providing what is necessary for them to grow healthy and at the expected speed.
The waiting time until harvest is two to three weeks.
Don’t throw away the lettuce brains
Did you know that it is also possible to use lettuce stalks for three purposes?
That’s right, because it contains a high level of vitamins and minerals that if used correctly as a liquid fertilizer and teas for health has excellent results.
In addition, also learn how to plant lettuce quickly using the lettuce brains you bought at the supermarket or grocery store. Check it out in the video below:
Source: Victor Horta on the Balcony.
Lettuce: important tips
For those who planted lettuce or simply like to consume this vegetable, check out some tips:
- How to buy – Lettuce leaves must look like a fresh product, that is, they must be shiny, firm, without dark areas. When choosing lettuce, you should avoid crushing it or breaking the leaves, selecting it carefully, based on its appearance.
- lettuce storage – Lettuce is one of the vegetables that spoils more quickly. Out of the fridge, it should be kept in a very cool place, with the bottom inside a bowl of water or inside an open plastic bag for up to a day. When stored in the refrigerator, it must be kept in a plastic bag or in a covered plastic container, removing the leaves according to consumption needs. In this condition, lettuce can be kept for three to four days.
- How to prepare – The leaves should be washed one by one in running water, and then left to soak in a solution of bleach (one tablespoon of bleach for one liter of filtered water) for 15 minutes. Then the leaves must be rinsed in filtered water;
- Facts about lettuce – The lettuce roxa it is very tasty and is consumed in the same way as green lettuce. THE american lettuce it is crunchier, and suitable for making sandwiches as it is more resistant to the heat of the meat (chicken, beef or fish).
For those who have the habit of consuming vegetables, also check out our article on the concept baby leaf of cultivation that has been gaining more and more space. Interested? Check out!
