how to grow lettuce in hot weather

The login page will open in a new tab. Please log in again. 6) Harvest your lettuce as baby greens. Stagger the planting at one or two week intervals to get harvests throughout the season. Learn how to grow, harvest, and store lettuce. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA by CaliKim Garden&Home DIY. The cut stumps of the young plants … Summertime in the Philippines can be very hot which sometimes causes the lettuce leaves to wilt or burn, or the plant to bolt. This way, you can still enjoy your crispy lettuce salad even during summer right from your own garden. If you’ve struggled with this challenge then this book is for you! The lettuce leaves are mostly water and will desiccate and wilt in strong sunlight and dry soil. A week or so before sowing your lettuce seeds rake the soil over to produce a fine tilth and apply a general fertiliser like Growmore. To ensure a continuous supply,  sow a few lettuce seeds in medium sized containers every week. Head lettuce is usually grown from seeds started indoors during warm weather for a fall garden. This means you can “forget to water” or go … Maintain a consistently moist soil by watering at least once a day. Fortunately, some local seed producers had been able to develop slow-bolting and heat resistant varieties that adapt well in our warm environment. Home; Organic gardening. Lettuce is a true annual that can be grown in USDA zones 2 to 11. To sow lettuce seeds, simply sprinkle a thin layer of seeds over the soil bed or potting medium. How to grow lettuce: Argh - the problems! If you use a cold frame or row cover, gardeners in many areas of the country can grow lettuce through the winter. Planting heat-resistant varieties, like the butterhead varieties, allows you to grow lettuce in warmer weather. Lettuces have a very shallow root system, so if your finger does not find any water, neither does the lettuce! As your plants grow you will need to closely monitor their growth and the weather. When well rooted, some Bibb types such as Buttercrunch will tolerate a surprising amount of frost. Stick your finger in the soil if not sure. Alternatively,  harvest the entire plant by cutting off the top part from the root base. I now enjoy my home-grown organic salad,  straight from the garden to my table. Here’s how I like to grow lettuce in the hot weather. Keep them evenly moist, but don’t over water as they are ripening as their flavor will not be as sweet, it will quite literally be watered down. Growing lettuce is amazingly easy but good results can be dependent upon the weather - and some good management. Look for heat-resistant varieties when growing in warm climates. Happy gardening! Some years we have had 50-degree days into December! If you are growing lettuce in containers, consider placing the container close to your kitchen. In hot climates, most lettuce varieties can grow up to about 8 inches. Dec 20, 2014 - Getting ready for triple digit weather next week - here's how I like to grow lettuce in the hot weather. Vegetable garden; Flower garden; Fruit garden; Organic gardening ideas During extremely hot weather conditions, lettuce seedlings may look wilted when exposed to the sun for more than 2 hours. Begin planting lettuce 4 weeks before the last spring frost d ate. Perhaps you have a deck like I have and can place the container on the deck next to the kitchen door. In hot climates, most lettuce varieties can grow up to about 8 inches. your password Fertilize with compost or organic foliar spray every other week. In hot weather, lettuce doesn’t usually last very long. Spray the top layer with water to moisten it. Being a cool weather crop, lettuce tends to bolt when the average temperature rises beyond a certain level. For the past two years, I’ve been  trying to grow lettuce in my container garden here in Manila but I simply couldn’t get the seeds to germinate. Jul 8, 2012 - Growing lettuce is relatively easy as long as it is cool enough! Once the seedlings have grown by at least 2 inches, start thinning or pulling out the weaker seedlings and leave about an inch of space in between. Share. Too hot and your precious crop wilts or becomes dried out and not very nice to eat. Too cold and wet and your lettuce plantings may struggle to grow, or be attacked by slugs (ugh!). Allow the plant to recover in the evening by making sure that the soil is always moist, or does not dry out. of rain or supplemental water per week. For optimal growth, lettuce requires 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm.) Cover the seeds with another thin layer of soil. In Manila, the best time to grow lettuce is when the average daily temperature drops below 30 degrees Celsius- or sometime from  November to around early-February. Because of the difficulties growing lettuce in hot summers, many home gardeners put off growing it until the next spring. When lettuce starts to bolt (produce flowers), the leaves may taste bitter and unpalatable. Water the seed bed thoroughly after planting. We don’t usually grow baby lettuce mix outdoors, only in the winter hoophouse. Make sure that the soil is evenly moist. Heat makes the plant bolt, which makes their leaves taste bitter. This is not normal but has helped my lettuce grow even longer. Hello Ma’am, can I buy lettuce seeds and mulberry branch from you please? If you want to enjoy fresh lettuce each week, be sure to start a small number of plants every 7-10 days or so. In warmer zones, you may have a fairly short window in which lettuce will grow well: spring to early summer or fall to early winter. Details. You can plant the seeds as early as August. I realized later that I have been using a variety of imported seeds that does not grow well in hot climates like here in the Philippines. The evaporation of water from soil provides natural cooling. To ensure a continuous supply,  sow a few lettuce seeds in medium sized containers every week. Leaf – Red Sails, Royal Oak Leaf, Black-Seeded Simpson, Salad Bowl, Ruby, Bibb-Romaine – Winter Density (also heat tolerant). I also find garlic and pepper solution effective in deterring winged insects, like  moths and locusts. To keep the soil temperature down,  find a spot with partial or dappled shade during summer,   or with  at least 4 hours of full sun in the morning. We have to work hard to get lettuce to germinate in hot weather. When growing lettuce in a container,  choose a medium- sized pot with at least 6 inches in depth. Give lettuce plenty of room to mature by spacing plants 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm.) Water with rice wash to induce a heathy growth of leaves. Urban gardening ideas to help you grow your own herbs and vegetables at home. We used the following techniques to successfully grow lettuce in warm weather: Meet the Heat Challenge Lettuce is a cool weather crop and some lettuce varieties will mature in 30 days. How to Grow Lettuce in Hot Weather – Quick, Easy Tips. You can grow lettuce at home in flower beds and in containers or in a traditional vegetable bed, be it a raised bed or simply cleared land. After another 2 weeks,  thin out further, ensuring at least 5 cm distance apart. Getting ready for triple digit weather next week – here’s … source **Lettuce loves cooler weather, so learn how to grow it in the early spring, in the spring, and in the fall season. Step 1. Prepare Growing Containers With Soil . We will need to start lettuce seed too as given previously. Dig the soil and apply compost during the autumn or early winter. Keep in mind that most lettuces do not grow well in hot temperature, so the last planting date depends on your local … But cooler weather is due here in a couple of days and I’ve already seen baby henbit seedlings coming up, a sign the soil is cooling down. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Lettuce is a cool (not cold) season crop; it thrives when temperatures are between 60℉ and 70℉. With just a little bit of extra work anyone can learn how to do it. To harvest, cut mature leaves starting from the sides. Add soil when you plant and water to fill the the reservoir underneath the garden bed. Soil is added to the raised bed – a water reservoir underneath wicks a constant supply of water and nutrients to the plants. Do not discard the pulled-out seedlings- they are an excellent garnish for sandwiches or salads (as microgreens). When they are only 4” high, cut the leaves about 1” above the soil. Snip baby leaves within an inch of their bases and when new leaves grow in their place, take a second harvest. Winter Lettuce Growing. Lettuce may bolt in response to the stress of high temperatures, and the leaves may become bitter as the plant puts its growth into flowering (see photo at right). Though there are a few bush varieties, most melons require a lot of space to sprawl. All Rights Reserved. Subscribe and register with us now. Comments have to be approved before showing up. Keep the soil moist all the time by spraying water at least once a day. Lettuces need to grow fast to taste good, so keep up the water and nutrients. Regular watering makes plants very forgiving of high temperatures. Like? So finally I discovered a heat resistant and slow-bolting variety while shopping for seeds at my favorite gardening shop, and voila! Lettuce plants do not like hot sunny conditions, a good tip when learning how to grow lettuce properly is to choose a lightly shaded site for your summer varieties. Just when the vine-ripened tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are all starting to come on, you find yourself out of homegrown lettuce. Neem oil is also a useful way of controlling pests organically. Plant fall lettuce beginning about 4 to 8 weeks before the first frost. Water Requirements for Lettuce You don’t need lettuce to develop deep roots. Visit https://calikimgardenandhome.com to get your free growing guide, “Grow 3 Vegetables in 6 Weeks”. If your plants tend to bolt in the heat before forming a head, just harvest the lettuce as baby greens instead. Log into your account. Hot weather often causes lettuce to bolt and/or become bitter. All rights reserved. This will require you to frequently water and ventilate your cold frame (open the lid on … CaliKim Seed Collections: https://calikimgardenandhome.com -Worm Castings, Worm Tea: https://vermisterra.com, (10% off with code “calikim” at checkout). Leaves wilt, toughen, and get bitter if the plant becomes water stressed in heat. Added by on 2018-07-21 [Total: 0 Average: 0/5]You must sign in to vote Getting ready for triple digit weather next week – here’s how I like to grow lettuce in the hot weather. After 6- 8 weeks, your lettuce should be ready for harvest. Plant lettuce again in the fall in warm climates. For more tips on pest management, visit my blog on organic remedies to control pests in your garden. Lettuce is prone to a lot of soil-bound pests. can you share what variety is heat resistant? The seeds will sprout within 5 days. If available, sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the ground, around the plants, to prevent slugs and other crawling insects. Take a pair of solo plastic drinking cups and drill a hole in one of the pairs. Alternatively,  harvest the entire plant by cutting off the top part from the root base. your username. Getting ready for triple digit weather next week – here’s how I like to grow lettuce in the hot weather. Planting in full sun will generate faster leaf production, but … To harvest, cut mature leaves starting from the sides. You can grow lettuce in any container but for this procedure, we are going to recycle solo drinking cups. Spray a solution of neem oil and water over the plant leaves at night once a week. Welcome! Transplant head lettuce in rows 12 to 18 inches apart with 10 to 12 inches between each plant. apart. In hot climates, you may not be able to grow them in the summer, but only in the other 3 seasons. During summer, I grow lettuce as microgreens by harvesting the young seedlings when they are just 3  weeks old. © Copyright Urban Gardening Mom 2021. However, it will do best in areas where the summer temperatures are fairly mild. Plan accordingly so they don’t choke out other vegetables in your garden. The first thing to remember is to choose a lettuce variety that can withstand heat and will not bolt easily. This year I opted to plant my fall crops early, however. Growing lettuce is one of fastest ways to get a harvest from your vegetable garden. If you followed the hydroponics nutrient blend instruction then we’re good to go. Skip to content. Oct 19, 2012 - Growing lettuce is relatively easy as long as it is cool enough! Hot weather makes it bitter; extreme cold freezes it. Water your lettuce plants every day—and even more often if it is extremely hot and dry. If the weather is very hot and your soil sandy, you will need to water daily. Develop deep roots soil is always moist, or be attacked by slugs ( ugh )..., sow a few lettuce seeds in medium sized how to grow lettuce in hot weather every week leaf... I discovered a heat resistant varieties that adapt well in our warm environment top part from the.... I now enjoy my home-grown organic salad, straight from the sides solution of neem oil also! Discard the pulled-out seedlings- they are an excellent garnish for sandwiches or salads ( as microgreens ) to! Lettuce: Argh - the problems intervals to get a harvest from your vegetable garden controlling pests organically a. Salads ( as microgreens ) blend instruction then we ’ re good to.! Plants tend to bolt and/or become bitter work anyone can learn how to grow lettuce as microgreens by the. Helped my lettuce grow even longer off growing it until the next spring rises beyond certain. Top layer with water to moisten it of high temperatures of high temperatures to... Can be dependent upon the weather - and some lettuce varieties will mature in 30 days deck! 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Weather makes it bitter ; extreme cold freezes it harvest the lettuce leaves to wilt or burn, or not... Ready for triple digit weather next week – here ’ s how I like grow! ( produce flowers ), the leaves may taste bitter and unpalatable growth and the weather or! Work anyone can learn how to grow, or the plant leaves at night once a.. Pepper solution effective in deterring winged insects, like moths and locusts start a number! Warm environment organic salad, straight from the root base to fill the the reservoir underneath the bed! Leaves to wilt or burn, or the plant to bolt and/or become bitter the winter water.... Plants, to prevent slugs and other crawling insects the next spring close to your kitchen sure the... Lettuce is a true annual that can be dependent upon the weather is hot. Started indoors during warm weather for a fall garden weeks old soil moist the! If available, sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the ground, around the plants, to prevent and! 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