Potted lettuce

La lettuce It is an ideal plant for potting. Its growth is very fast and, since what is eaten are its leaves, not its fruit, it is easy to enjoy them in a few weeks from sowing.

This plant, a source of vitamins A and B, has been highly valued in Mediterranean culture since ancient times. Although it is native to India, it was cultivated by Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, who appreciated both its leaves and the oil in its seeds. In the mythology of these civilizations, lettuce is associated with sex and is part of important disputes between the gods.

There are different varieties and can all be grown in pots. The most well-known and consumed variety is Romaine, with its large leaves around a central bud; the Trocadero; the Iceberg lettuce, which forms a very tight, round bud; the Marigold, very good for growing in pots; and the Oakleaf, which has a slightly more bitter taste. If you'd like to learn more about the most popular variety, you can read about the Romaine lettuce.

Un climate Temperate (15-18º) is ideal for them, but they adapt very well to more aggressive conditions. At high temperatures (+ 25º) it "spikes" prematurely, that is, it rises above the stem and blooms.

Since you don't need that much Salt Like other vegetables, we will place it in an area with hours of shade, so that other plants such as eggplants or cucumbers can enjoy the sunniest areas. If you want to know what other vegetables are suitable for growing in small spaces, check out our article on vegetables growing in pot.

Regarding irrigation, does not require a large amount of water, although in summer it may need daily watering. Just check the soil moisture. problems The most common are premature earing, aphids and whiteflies.

Too easy sow it in yogurt cups, with the bottom perforated, 5 mm deep. We will use a soil for seeds, which is nothing more than a low compost substrate so that it does not burn the small roots. We will put several seeds to preserve only the one that best develops. The others, if they have sprouted, we pluck them to let the selected one grow strong.

It will be when it has about 6 leaves when the let's transplant to a pot of about 11 liters, with universal substrate. As the lettuce grows, we will cut the leaves, thus enjoying salads with real fresh and crisp leaves of our own flowerpotOnce all the leaves have been cut, the stem can be cut about 3 cm from its base and it will still sprout, giving us a few more leaves. If you need more advice on how to care for your crops, visit this link about tips for having a garden in pots.

If you want to experiment with other similar crops, you might consider the growing lamb's lettuce in a pot, which offer an excellent alternative to traditional lettuce.

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