iceberg lettuce seeds

How do you plant iceberg lettuce seeds?

Seeds need light to germinate; sow at a very shallow depth by covering with a thin layer of growing medium. Sow seed 1/8 inch deep, 1 inch apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. When plants have two or three true leaves, thin to 12-inch spacings for crisphead varieties, 6 to 10 inches for other types.

How long does it take to grow iceberg lettuce from seed?

Exact number days to maturity varies, and Iceberg lettuce plants may take somewhere between 55 and 90 days to be ready for harvest. Like most lettuce, Iceberg has a tendency to bolt quickly in hot weather, so it's recommended to plant spring crops as early as possible.

Is iceberg lettuce easy to grow?

Growing your own iceberg lettuce is simple, especially when you keep the seedlings indoors for the first couple of months. By keeping the lettuce cool and moist, and growing it at the right time of year, you'll have crisp, refreshing iceberg lettuce you can harvest right from your garden.

Where do iceberg lettuce seeds come from?

When a lettuce bolts, the stem within the head elongates and branches, producing a flowering stem 2 to 4 feet high. The cluster of yellow flowering heads are self-fertile, forming seeds with a structure designed to help them carry on the wind.

Does lettuce need full sun?

Although lettuce grows fastest in full sun, it is one of the few vegetables that tolerates some shade. In fact, a spring crop often lasts longer if shaded from the afternoon sun as the season warms. ... Give lettuce fertile, well-drained, moist soil with plenty of rich organic matter and a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

What month do you plant lettuce?

Lettuce is a cool weather crop and is best grown in spring and fall. The seeds germinate in temperatures as low as 40 F (4 C) but its ideal germination and growing temperature is between 60 and 65 F (16 to 18 C). To grow great lettuce, find a site that offers at least six to eight hours of direct sun.

How do you harvest lettuce so it keeps growing?

Cut the outer lettuce leaves about 1 inch above the crown. This protects the crown so the lettuce can continue growing. Cut off the amount of lettuce needed when the leaves reach a length between 3 and 6 inches. Water the lettuce regularly to encourage continued growth even after you begin harvesting.

How often should I water iceberg lettuce?

Iceberg lettuce doesn't set deep roots, so it requires proper irrigation to keep the root zone moist. Watering the bed when the top inch of soil feels dry is usually sufficient. Depending on how cool and moist the weather is, the lettuce may require watering every five to 10 days.

Why is lettuce called Iceberg?

Introduced for commercial production in the late 1940s, Iceberg (or crisphead) lettuce was the only variety bred to survive cross-country travel (the name Iceberg comes from the piles of ice they would pack the light green lettuce heads in before the advent of the refrigerated train car).

How long does it take for a lettuce seed to germinate?

Seed germinates in 2 to 10 days at or near 70°F (21°C)—but sometimes seed can take up to 2 weeks to germinate if the soil is cold. Keep the soil evenly moist until seeds germinate then keep the soil moist until seedlings are well established.

How many lettuce seeds do you plant in one hole?

Lettuce. Germination rates are around 80%, so anywhere from 1 to 3 seeds are often planted per hole. Plant at least two to guarantee a high per-hole germination rate of 96%.

Can lettuce be grown all year round?

Lettuce is generally considered a cool weather plant, grown in early spring or fall, although it can be grown in the warm season in most of the SF Bay Area by choosing varieties adapted to warmer weather. Check seed catalogs for summer lettuces.

Should I let my lettuce go to seed?

When lettuce goes to seed, it will drop to the ground and spring up when your stalks are dying back. If you let your spring greens go to seed, your fall garden will come to life right on time. Since lettuces are light feeders, I'll allow them to re-seed in the same spot once.

Can you regrow iceberg lettuce in water?

To regrow lettuce in water, save the end from a head of lettuce. That is, cut the leaves from the stem at about one inch (2.5 cm.) ... Be sure to change the water in the dish every day or so. After a couple of days, roots will begin to grow at the bottom of the stump and leaves will begin to form.

Why is my lettuce growing upwards?

ANSWER: Lettuce plants that suddenly start stretching toward the sky and growing extra tall are likely to be bolting. ... When your lettuce bolts, the flower stalk draws energy and nutrients away from the lettuce leaves, making them more bitter and reducing their quality the longer the stalk remains on the plant.

How do you grow lettuce in hot weather?

Meet the Heat Challenge

Grow loose leaf varieties that are heat-resistant or slow-bolting, rather than varieties that form heads. ...
Use transplants or germinate seeds indoors in containers away from heat.
Provide shade. ...
Don't skimp on water. ...
Mulch lightly with an organic mulch to retain soil moisture.

Does lettuce need a lot of water?

Watering. Lettuce requires plenty of water in order to thrive. Not giving your lettuce plants enough water is sure to affect their growth. Warm weather lettuce require even more water so if you live in an area where rainfall is inadequate, be sure to provide supplemental water through irrigation.

How many hours of sunlight does lettuce need?

Almost all varieties of lettuce are short-day plants. They need about ten to twelve hours of sunlight per day for their healthy growth.

Will lettuce regrow after cutting?

Head lettuce will die back, but most leaf-lettuce plants renew efforts to produce leaves, if regularly watered after trimming. Results will often be smaller than the original plant, but you may be able to harvest a second, good-tasting crop within as little as two weeks.

What temperature is too cold for lettuce?

How to Grow: Lettuce is a cool-weather crop that thrives in the temperature range 60-65 degrees F, and if thoroughly hardened, most varieties survive temperatures as low as 20 degrees F. Cold-adapted varieties survive much lower temperatures. Seed germinates best at about 75 degrees F.

Do cucumbers need full sun?

Cucumbers grow best in full sun but will grow with just 5 hours of sun a day. Cucumbers are very tender vegetables; they need temperatures of 70°F (21ºC) or warmer to grow well. ... You can grow cucumbers vertically; place them next to a fence or a trellis.