Things Needed
Tip
If you ’re planting tardily in the farm time of year in Florida , start with lettuce plants instead of come . The urge source varieties are usable in most online flora catalogs .
Lettuce is one vegetable that can be grown in Florida . For a fraction of the price of foodstuff store baggedlettuces , you may grow epicure assortment throughout spring , fall and most of wintertime . refreshed - picked lettuce is higher in nutrients than lettuce that ’s been in passage to stores for several daytime . If you grow it organically , you do n’t need to interest about any pesticide residues on your lettuce .
Starting Lettuce from Seed in Florida
Step 1
Select seed recommended by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture . All types of cabbage , such as free leaf , Cos or romaine , crisphead , butterhead and fore , can be grown in Florida . Seed diversity to believe are crisphead : Great Lakes ; butterhead : Ermosa , Bibb , Tom Thumb and Buttercrunch ; loose leaf , Simpson types ; Salad Bowl , Red Sails and New Red Fire ; oak tree leaf : Salad Bowl and Royal Oak ; and romaine : Parris Island Cos and Outredgeous .
Step 2
Increase fertility rate and drainage in your ground by digging in 6 inches of composted moo-cow manure . Most Florida soil are either sand- or clay - found . The increase of compost will benefit both stain types . Hoe or till dirt to a fine tilth . Cover soil with straw and await three to six weeks after amending soil before institute . This will permit pH levels to stabilize .
Step 3
Establish an irrigation system . Sprinklers are an efficient irrigation method acting prior to germination . Drip irrigation uses less water after irrigation . trickle irrigation is not subject to piss restriction regulations in many Florida county . Sprinkler and drip irrigation cut salinity buildup in garden grime .
Step 4
bump off stalk and dampen territory with water supply before sow in seed . Broadcast leaf lettuce seed in rows 1 to 2 feet apart in 12 - in - encompassing beds . Broadcast head simoleons seeded player in rows 3 foot aside in 12 - inch - wide beds . dough seeds are too petite to space . After sprouting , tenuous leaf lettuce plants 6 to 10 inches apart and head wampum plants 12 inch aside . For a uninterrupted supply of boodle , sequent sow every three weeks .
Maintaining Lettuce Plants in Florida
Add 1 to 2 inches of compost and mulch around the plants with straw two weeks after germination . If you live in an area where slug are prevalent , do n’t mulch with shuck . Instead , surround young lettuce plants with thin strips of copper or cut the summit and bed from 1 - liter soda water bottles and use these as collars around each plant .
Hoe or hand - clout weeds as soon as they seem . Weed challenger scale down industrial plant vigor , provides tax shelter for pests and encourages diseases . Lettuce is a shallow - rooted plant . so do n’t disturb the etymon when hoeing .
Water lettuce plant life thoroughly . To discourage wet - related disease and some pests , pee in the daybreak so the plants can dry before nighttime temperature discharge . Water until the soil is moist 6 inches below the surface . Consistent moisture level are decisive for lettuce drumhead growth .
Harvest leaf lettuce 70 to 75 days after planting or when plants are around 6 inches tall . harvest time pass lettuce 55 days after planting or when the leaves overlap each other and form a round header . Bibb lettuce is quick to harvest when the leaf cupful inward and form a loose brain . Cos and romaine lucre are matured when the leaves are 6 to 8 inches longsighted and take form a long , close head .
References
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