If you are interested in growing romaine lettuce, you may be wondering how to grow it from seed. This article outlines three basic steps you can follow to grow your own romaine lettuce from seed. These steps include planting, fertilizing, and harvesting. If you follow these steps, you will be well on your way to enjoying fresh romaine lettuce at home.
Growing romaine lettuce from seed
When growing romaine lettuce, you can plant it in a raised bed to protect it from animals and pests. You can also place a garden mesh over the plant to keep out harsh weather and lock in moisture. Once the plants have established themselves in the garden bed, you can harvest the leaves as they grow. It should take about 70 to 75 days for romaine lettuce to produce a full head.
When you first plant your romaine lettuce seeds, make sure to plant them at least one inch apart. When the seedlings are an inch tall, thin them, and transplant them to a new spot in your garden. Keep in mind that romaine lettuce does not like to be planted near weeds, so make sure you leave plenty of space between them.
Growing romaine lettuce from seed can be a simple process. The procedure is similar to that of growing celery or green onions. Cut off the heart of the lettuce, which will grow new leaves. Then, remove the outer leaves, which will die off. Then, when the heart is ready, plant it in soil.
The best time for growing romaine lettuce is 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost date. When planting romaine lettuce seeds, make sure the soil is moist and thick, and add compost to improve the soil. Then, ensure enough space and water them often. Ideally, the seeds should be planted six inches apart, but you can thin them out if needed.
If you are not into growing from seed, you can also buy transplants from a local nursery. This method is great for beginners and those who don’t want to spend the time or money to grow lettuce from seed. The only problem with this method is that you are limited to the varieties available in the nursery.
Another benefit of growing romaine lettuce from seed from grocery store is that you’ll avoid the risks of E. coli outbreaks from contaminated romaine lettuce. However, this should not discourage you from growing romaine. The flavor and nutrition of this lettuce are much better than those in supermarkets. You can also save money by reducing food miles. And fresh romaine tastes so much better!
Before planting lettuce seeds, make sure the soil is well-draining and moist. The soil should also be broken up well. Avoid large clods as they may inhibit germination. In addition, add a few soil nutrients to the soil. The seed should be sown one to two inches beneath the soil surface.
To grow romaine lettuce from seed, choose a variety with heat tolerance and a large head. This variety is great for salads and can feed a large family. You can also choose other types. Another variety is the flashy trout’s back. It’s a red and green speckled variety with crisp leaves.