LETTUCE

Lettuce belongs to family of Asteraceae. It is also called as Salad crops as it is consumed in uncooked form. Because of its diet and medicinal values, its demand is increasing rapidly. It is mostly grown for leaves purpose but sometime it is cultivated for seed and stem purpose. It is good source of Vitamin K and chlorophyll. Among different types of lettuce, loose leaf is considered as best as it contain high amount of iron and vitamin A and C. China is a top producer of Lettuce in world.

It can grow on variety of soils but it gives good result when grown on sandy loam and silt loam soils. Also soils should be rich in nitrogen, potassium also rich in organic matter content. For good growth, ideal pH of soil should be in range of 6 to 6.8. Avoid waterlogged, acidic soils for cultivation.

Type of Lettuce

1) Butter heads: Ready for first harvest in 45-55days after sowing.

2) Crisp head : Ready for first harvest in 70-100days after sowing.

3) Loose Leaves: Ready for first harvest in 45-55days after sowing.

4) Romaine : Ready for first harvest in 75-85days after sowing.

Great Lakes: Dark green, heading type variety. It is resistant to tip burn.

Chinese yellow: Early maturing variety with light green loose leaves.

Other state varieties:

L S 1, L S 2, Iceberg, Bogampo,

Punjab Lettuce 1: Its leaves are crispy, shiny, light green color. It is non heading type variety and bear loose leaves. Ready for first harvest in 45days after sowing. Gives average yield of 35qtl/acre of green leaves.

Plough land for two-three times and bring soil to fine tilth. Carry out soil testing to check nutritional status of soil. If soil is deficient in nutrients apply micro-nutrients on basis of soil test results.

Time of sowing
Early October to November is optimum time for nursery sowing. Sow seeds in nursery at a distance of 45x30cm. It take 3-4 days for germination of seeds. After germinations, lettuce required sunlight for minimum 3-4hours per day in morning. When seedlings become four to six weeks old, transplant them into main field.

Spacing
When seedlings are transplanted in main field, use spacing of 45cmx30cm.

Method of Sowing
For sowing of lettuce use transplanting method.

Seed Rate:
For nursery preparation, seed rate of 160-200gm is required. Irrigate nursery beds at interval of week.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply well decomposed cow dung@15tonnes per acre, and Nitrogen@18kg (in form of Urea@41kg), Phosphorus@5kg (in form of DAP@25kg and Potash@15kg (MoP@25kg) per acre. Apply whole amount of Phosphorus, Potash and half amount of Nitrogen before transplantation. Give remaining amount of head formation.

48 hours before transplantation stop irrigating nursery beds. 30minutes before transplantation apply good amount of irrigation. It will help in easy pulling of seedlings. Provide first irrigation, immediately after transplantation. Apply remaining irrigation, at interval of 5-6days on light soils where as 8 to 10days irrigation interval for heavy soils.

• Pest and their control:
  

Aphid: If incidence of sucking pest like aphid is observed to control take spray of Imidacloprid 17.8SL@60 ml/acre using 150 ltr water.

• Disease and their control:
  

Downy Mildew and Mosaic: Use resistant variety for control of downy mildew. Mosaic is seed borne disease so as a preventive measure use disease free seeds for cultivation of lettuce.

Loose leaf type variety is harvested when they are fully developed or reached to marketable size. Tender leaves are cut regularly with interval of one week. At the end of March or at beginning of April stop harvesting of leaves as plant attain milky stage. For seed purpose complete harvesting in May month. It gives average seed yield of 50 kg/acre.

For head type variety, carry out harvesting when heads are fully developed. Harvesting can be done by hand or by cutting of plant just above soil surface.

Carry out harvesting early in morning. It will keep leaves fresh.

After harvesting, do sorting and grading of leaves according head size, leaves size etc. After then lettuce is packed in crates or cartons. Lettuce can be stored for three weeks at temperature of 4 to 5°C at 95% relative humidity.