The article will tell you how to grow Iceberg lettuce, how to achieve the maximum yield, and most importantly, what is needed for competent plant care.

Agricultural technology for a high yield

Iceberg lettuce best of all yields on loamy and sandy loam soils. Neutral soil is also suitable for planting. The culture does not like acidic soil, so gardeners need to lower the acidity level before planting: add dolomite flour, ash, or just dilute a small amount of lime in the ground.

Additional Information. "Iceberg" - translated from English as an iceberg, that is, a mass of ice in the ocean. The name for the salad comes from a technique used by farmers at a time when there were no refrigerators. The ice, which was sprinkled on the leaves, allowed them to preserve the freshness of the vegetable. Today the name “iceberg” has come down from “ice” to gardeners.

Lettuce differs from cabbage in a set of vitamins such as A, B and C, as well as high content of folic acid, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. For people who follow the figure, this plant is a real storehouse of vitamins.

Outdoor cultivation

The plant is susceptible to disease on unprepared soil, so it is extremely important to plant it in the beds where potatoes, other varieties of head crops, onions or cereals used to grow. You should not immediately add a lot of fertilizer to the soil for planting, it will be enough to add compost and humus. For seedlings, it is better to choose sunny places. The culture is light-requiring. Frosts are not terrible for salad, as it can withstand frosts down to -6 degrees. For vegetable growth, a temperature of 18-25 Celsius will be optimal.

The day before planting, you must put the seeds in a damp cloth or gauze. To extend the harvest period, a technique of sowing every two weeks is suitable. This will allow for constant growth of culture.

Important! In the early stages of growth, it is imperative to cover the seedlings with film or non-woven material. The advantage of these coatings is that you can water the plant without even removing the film. If the bed is at an angle, then it will be more expedient to remove the cover and make sure that each bush of seedlings is moistened. The coating is necessary to maintain the optimal temperature and preserve immature sprouts. Care for iceberg lettuce when growing from seeds in the early stages of growth must be careful.

How to propagate a culture

Lettuce can be grown by seedlings. Open ground allows you to achieve maximum yield if you choose the right irrigation technique and regularly monitor the temperature inside the film shelter. The head lettuce does not withstand abrupt changes in soil, so peat tablets must be purchased to preserve the seeds. There are two to three seeds per tablet. Containers with peat tablets and seeds in a fertilizer cover can be placed on the windowsill. When the seedlings reach a height of 8-10 centimeters, the culture is ready to be replanted.

Note! Lettuce can be grown on an unheated balcony or loggia, for this it is enough to monitor the temperature so that it does not drop below zero. Unseasoned seedlings can die from too low temperatures.

Seedlings will reach 8-10 centimeters only in the eighth week of germination. This refers to the spring period. In summer, you can also plant 3 week old sprouts.

At home, without a summer cottage, it is possible to grow a culture from seeds.Seedlings can be installed on a balcony or windowsill. Growing at home is very similar to the summer cottage approach. Pots measuring 60x60 centimeters are best suited for culture. It is required to plant the shoots at a distance of 12 centimeters from each other and half a centimeter in depth. Thus, conditions are created at home similar to open ground.

Seeds

The Moscow region becomes a good environment for salad if the gardener applies a technique called hydroponics. This is an alternative method of plant cultivation. The seeds should be planted in a mineral-rich environment. The advantage of this technique is that the plant directly receives nutrients, and there is no need to enrich the soil.

Iceberg lettuce growing from seeds

This section will answer the question of how to grow a salad from seeds. It is best to start preparing the beds in early April. The soil must be loosened and covered with material or film. This will keep the earth warm for fresh seeds. Every 40 centimeters, beds should be dug up to three centimeters deep. After that, the seeds are placed in a depression at a distance of 20 centimeters from each other. A centimeter of earth is poured from above.

Important! If you are not sure about the quality of the seeds, then the thicker the sowing, the better. This will increase the likelihood of sprouts appearing.

Caring for a salad is similar to caring for home seedlings. The bed must be covered with foil and wait for the first shoots to appear for two weeks. Temperature has a high impact on growth rate.

Planting and planting seedlings

It is better to plant seedlings in peat and plastic cups, so the seedlings are not injured and take root better in the open field. To do this, you need to lightly tamp the earth, sow 2-3 seeds each and cover it with earth. The film will help in keeping the moisture and warmth levels. It will be possible to open the plant already in the fourth week from the moment of planting. Seedlings will emerge quickly if the temperature is regularly maintained at 25 degrees Celsius. Before planting, the container must be taken out into the garden in partial shade. It is not recommended to leave it in open sunlight - the plant is easily burned.

Saplings

It is necessary to plant in loosened soil in holes, 20-30 centimeters deep. Planted rows should not be closer than 40 centimeters. It is important to water the wells with water during planting. It is not necessary to strongly compact the soil at the roots of the Iceberg lettuce, as this will impair the functioning of the plant's root system.

Culture care

For effective cultivation from Iceberg lettuce seeds, you must perform the following actions:

  • Loosen the soil. Weeding the weeds is essential for efficient growth of the heads. Lettuce has a superficial root system, so weed must be done with care so as not to harm the roots;
  • Feed the sprouts. The best feeding time is when heads are formed. For feeding, it is better to dilute two tablespoons of bird droppings and mullein in 10 liters of water. So you can combine watering and feeding;
  • Abundant watering. Watering should be done every day, but the head of cabbage should not be oversaturated, since it can fester from an excess of water. Rot on the inside will ruin the entire head of cabbage and can negatively affect the harvest. When the head of cabbage begins to form ovaries, watering should be reduced several times;
  • Sowing seeds is necessary at a distance of 20-30 centimeters. If the sprouts interfere with each other, then the head of cabbage will not form properly. To do this, you need to monitor how close the heads of cabbage have sprouted.

Kachan

Note! Cruciferous fleas are the main pest in iceberg lettuce beds. Seeds grown in accordance with all the rules of agricultural technology are less susceptible to the parasite. To eliminate pests, intensive watering and sprinkling with wood ash on the heads of cabbage is necessary.

Harvesting

Harvesting can be carried out already after 45 days after sowing. Cutting heads of cabbage with a diameter of 5-10 centimeters is recommended early in the morning. This keeps the salad fresh. Storage conditions are simple: heads of cabbage will remain fresh for another week at a temperature of -3-5 degrees Celsius.

Additional Information. The culture continues to grow even after the heads of cabbage are cut. Several more ovaries may form inside. For fun, you can leave one for growing.

Iceberg lettuce plant will be an ideal addition to the table on a hot summer day. Even in winter, gardeners have the opportunity to enjoy this amazing vegetable, for this it is enough to sow the plant in a greenhouse and keep the temperature at least 18 degrees Celsius.

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