Table of Content
It should be noted, however, that due to this exceedingly high water content, Iceberg Lettuce ranks among the lowest of all lettuce varieties in terms of its nutritional value. This is why it’s important to pair Iceberg Lettuce with other leafy greens, lettuce varieties, or food sources that offer a denser nutrient package. Aphids harm plants by piercing leaves with their mouthpieces and sucking out essential plant juices; an aphid infestation causes stunted plant growth. Some aphids are carriers of viruses that are harmful to many leafy vegetables.
Iceberg lettuce is ready to harvest when the head is about 6 inches in diameter and the leaves become tightly packed. Be sure to consume it in a reasonable time to avoid wilting and lessen the risk of contamination. Mulching regularly will help the soil retain the necessary moisture to keep your lettuce plants thriving. You should also fertilize every 3 to 4 weeks and feed your lettuce plants every 2 weeks, or as otherwise instructed on the label of your lettuce plant feed.
About Urja Seeds
If there's standing water on top of the soil, the seeds could rot. Its mild flavor also makes room for plenty of salad toppings to shine, such as fresh-cut tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, various cheeses, nuts, seeds, and more. Iceberg Lettuce is often called Crisphead due to its snappy texture and full-head form.
The seeds can be directly sown in the ground as soon as the soil is workable in the spring, or they can be started indoors four to six weeks before transplanting out. This method is best if you are planting a fall crop, as the seeds may not germinate outdoors in the heat of midsummer. Lettuce is typically ready to harvest 45 to 60 days after planting, though this timeframe differs if you grow lettuce in early fall or winter.
Harvesting of Iceberg Lettuce
Sow the seeds half or more inches deep with a one-inch gap in rows and the 13-to-18-inch gap in plants. Cover with a thin layer because it needs sunlight to germinate. Plant a few lettuce seeds in each portion of a seed tray and cover them with starter soil from your local garden center. Keep the soil around your seeds moist, and within ten days, seedlings will emerge.
Even though lettuce that you buy from the supermarket is rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, the lettuce you grow at home will have a far superior flavour. Don't leave the lettuce out at night until they have completely acclimated to the outdoors.
How to Grow Iceberg Lettuce
And in summers select the area where it is half shaded. This will result in good iceberg lettuce avoiding too much exposure to sunlight. Iceberg is a head lettuce, meaning it grows in a ball rather than leafy form, and it is known for its comparatively small, densely packed heads. The outer leaves are bright green in color, while the inner leaves and heart are light green to yellow and sometimes even white. The perfect time to harvest the lettuce leaves is when they grow up to 4-6 inches. You can also harvest young leaves which give a great flavour to salads.
Let’s take a look at how to harvest lettuce for which you have spent a lot of effort and time to nurture. The harvest time depends on your regions climatic conditions and the variety of seed you have chosen. There are some methods for cultivating it in a bed.
How Much Water do Iceberg Lettuce Need
The lettuce plants will be acclimated once they’ve been left outside for a full day. The entire acclimation process should take around a week. Plant the iceberg lettuce six to eight weeks before the last expected spring frost. For example, you could search "average last spring freeze dates for Kansas City." Whether you’re growing leaf lettuce like romaine or head lettuce like iceberg lettuce, aphids love to get to your lettuce before you do. Among aphids, the Green Peach aphid is well-known to farmers and home growers for its range of host plants and resistance to insecticide.
After about ten days, you’ll have many more leaves and probably nearly as many as your stump is capable of producing in its current environment. Harvest lettuce using a sharp knife and bring it inside to store in the fridge in a perforated plastic bag—store iceberg lettuce for up to two weeks without losing quality. If kept any longer, your lettuce may develop brown spots and turn yellow. Depending on the weather in your area, adding a cloche or planting your lettuce in a cold frame may be necessary if your spring tends to be chilly.
It not only adds crispiness to the food but as mentioned it can be used in a variety of salads. These green leaves not only give the fresh look to the food but also are a delight to watch and eat. Growing iceberg lettuce in containers is a very good idea for small gardeners who live in apartments.
It was a genuinely interactive and participatory workshop where we covered a wide gamut of topics through hands on practice. Anyone who has the slightest interest in environment and organic farming must attend this workshop. Iceberg lettuce can be readily used in the form of a salad that is tasty and healthy, preferably with a drizzle of olive oil over the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment