This is the classic romaine. Its compact, dark green rosette of tall, upright leaves is slightly curly with white hearts and has a crisp, sweet flavor. Slow to bolt. Grows best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade and even appreciates it in spring in hot climates.
Can lettuce get too much sun?
Too Much Daylight for Lettuce Plants
Their leaves will toughen and turn bitter, their sap will become milky, and they’ll put up a central seed stem. At that point, unless you’re planning to save seed, you should simply pull the plants and harvest any usable leaves that remain.
How much sun does romaine lettuce require?
5 to 6 hours
Lettuce prefers a location with 5 to 6 hours of sun, but can benefit from afternoon shade when temperatures soar. Soil should be loose, well-draining, and moist but not soggy.
Does romaine lettuce need a lot of water?
Lettuce has shallow roots, so plants need consistent watering. Check at least twice a week and water if the soil is dry down to 1 inch deep. Containers of lettuce need to be watered more frequently than garden beds, especially in the summer.
Where does romaine lettuce grow best?
Grow Romaine lettuce plants in full sun. However, the plants will benefit from partial shade during peak sunlight hours on hot days. Romaine plants like cool weather and lots of moisture in rich, well-drained soil. Transplanting should only be done in cool, preferably cloudy weather.
How hot is too hot for lettuce?
Lettuce is a cool-season vegetable, meaning it grows best in temperatures around 60 – 65°F. Once temperatures rise above 80°F, lettuce will normally start to “bolt” or stop leaf production and send up a stalk to flower and produce seed. The leaves become bitter at this stage.
What is the most heat tolerant lettuce?
Butterhead lettuce is usually known for being among the most heat-tolerant and bolt-resistant of all the lettuce types.
Does lettuce like morning or afternoon sun?
full morning sun
Arugula, lettuce, chard, kale and most other leafy greens are top candidates for partial shade at any time of day, and a longer list often thrives in sites that get full morning sun followed by afternoon shade.
How do you cut romaine So it keeps growing?
Plan to harvest your lettuce leaves in the morning, when they’ll be at their crispest. Cut the outer lettuce leaves about 1 inch above the crown. This protects the crown so the lettuce can continue growing. Cut off the amount of lettuce needed when the leaves reach a length between 3 and 6 inches.
What is the best way to grow romaine lettuce?
Use a nutrient-rich, moist soil.
Romaine requires both nitrogen and soil moisture to grow quickly. Fertilize or amend the garden soil with plenty of compost. Salad connoisseurs believe romaine grown in soil tastes better than hydroponic lettuce.
Should I water my lettuce every day?
You should aim to keep the ground around your lettuce moist up to a depth of about two inches. This means watering every day and, in especially hot climates, it can mean watering more than once a day.
What does Overwatered lettuce look like?
Lettuce is not one of the hardest vegetables to grow, overwatered lettuce is pretty easy to spot; it looks slimy and yucky and yellow, brown, and even black. The lettuce may look like it’s rotting or melting, because more or less it is doing just that.
How do you know if you’re overwatering lettuce?
Signs of Overwatering
- Wet soil. Obvs, if your plant’s soil is constantly wet and experiencing other negative symptoms, it is almost definitely overwatered.
- Blisters on the leaves.
- Yellow Leaves.
- Limp brown leaves.
- Wilting.
- Stems or leaves feel mushy.
- Dry soil.
- Yellow leaves.
Does romaine grow back after cutting?
When you cut off the entire head at once, the roots of the romaine will often produce additional lettuce leaves. After they grow and mature, you’ll be able to glean a second harvest. You can expect to wait another 55–60 days for the second harvest.
What month do you plant romaine lettuce?
The ideal time is 6 to 8 weeks before your first expected fall frost. I sow the romaine seeds directly into the garden in mid to late August, but you may be able to find transplants for fall planting at your local garden center as well.
How deep do romaine roots go?
Romaine lettuce has shallow roots so it grows well in a container that is 6-12 inches deep. It’s an easy plant to grow especially as a beginner. You can start from seed or get the transplants from a garden center.
Does romaine lettuce tolerate heat?
Romaine lettuce is sometimes tricky to grow in the heat, although it is relatively heat tolerant. Look for romaine varieties developed in hotter regions, like Jericho, a variety developed in Egypt. Other heat tolerant romaine lettuces include Anuenue, and Coastal Star.
How do you make lettuce grow bigger?
Lettuce grows best in loose, cool soil with good drainage. The addition of organic materials, such as compost or manure, will increase drainage, provide essential nutrients and improve your lettuce growing conditions. If you’ve had trouble with lettuce growth, consider purchasing a soil test kit.
What temp kills lettuce?
Lettuce may cope with light freezing and even one or two hard freezes, but once the thermometer reads 25°F or below, the plants are in danger.
How do you keep lettuce from bolting in hot weather?
Give your lettuce a break from full sun. Grow pots of lettuce on a porch or patio that gets some shade, plant it in the garden under taller plants, like corn, or use a shade cloth over your lettuce bed. Regular watering can also help delay bolting.
Does lettuce get bitter in heat?
Common Causes of Bitter Lettuce
Most gardeners will tell you that bitter lettuce is the result of summer heat; lettuce is known as a cool season vegetable. When temperatures rise, the plant snaps into maturation mode and bolts — sends out a stalk and flowers. It’s during this process that bitter lettuce is produced.