Lactuca sativa (Lettuce)

Botanical name: Lactuca sativa
Common name(s): Lettuce
Categories: Fruits and Vegetables

Plant description:

Lettuce is one of the most important year-round salad vegetables. It is not difficult to grow lettuce successfully provided you keep in mind that all types need well-prepared soil that is rich in organic material, regular thorough watering and feeding every two weeks. There are four types of lettuce: iceberg or crisphead, butterhead, loose-leaf, and cos or romaine. The most commonly grown is the iceberg type. Loose-leaf types can remain in the garden for about three months before replanting. Planting the correct hybrid for the time of year is most important.

Family: Asteraceae

Synonym: Lactuca sativa var. crispa

Botanical Pronunciation: lak-TOO-kuh suh-TYE-vuh

Lactuca sativa requirements and features

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Evergreen

Never Sheds All of Its Foliage.

Semi Deciduous

Sheds Part of Its Foliage During Winter/Autumn.

Deciduous

Sheds Its Leaves Annually

Full Sun

Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.

Half Sun

Prefers 3 To 6 Hours of Sunlight a Day.

Shade

Prefers Low Light Levels.

Frost Hardy

Can Handle frost without damage.

Semi Frost Hardy

Is Able to Survive Moderately Low Temperatures.

Frost Sensitive

Will Get Damaged and Possibly Killed During Periods of Frost.

High Watering

Requires Frequent Watering.

Moderate Watering

Requires Regular Watering.

Low Watering

Requires Little Water.

High Maintenance

Requires Regular Maintenance.

Moderate Maintenance

Requires moderate maintenance.

Low Maintenance

Requires little maintenance.

Pruning Required

Needs to be Pruned.

Indigenous

Originates in South Africa.

Non Indigenous

Exotic to South Africa.

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Plant Attributes
Additional Information

Botanical name	Lactuca sativa
Plant Care	Deciduous Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day. Semi Frost Hardy Semi Frost Hardy – Is Able to Survive Moderately Low Temperatures. Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering. Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa.
Categories	Fruits and Vegetables
Common name(s)	Lettuce
Origin	Eurasia
Planting instructions	Plant seedlings out into rows and space them 200mm apart. Do not plant too deep as this will result in poor heads.
Maintenance	Regular thorough watering and feeding every two weeks is required for all types of lettuce. Keep the plants moist and feed them every 14 days.
Soil conditions	All lettuce types need well-prepared soil that is rich in organic material.
Uses	Culinary Medicinal – Lettuce has antispasmodic properties and the leaves contain silicon. Eating lettuce daily, strengthens joints, bones and connective tissue. Medical science has even found lettuce to have sedative qualities.
Interesting planting ideas	Plant near beetroot, cabbages, carrots, radishes and strawberries.
Interesting info	Loose-leaf types can remain in the garden for about three months before replanting.Planting the correct hybrid for the time of year is most important. Lettuce is a great source of all the B vitamins, as well as vitamins A and C. It is rich in beta carotene, high in calcium, containing almost as much calcium as milk, it contains folic acid, magnesium and potassium.
Common pests and diseases	Cutworms, aphids, caterpillars, slugs and snails.Leaf spot, bottom rot.
Harvest	Iceberg, butter head and cos types can be picked as soon as the heads are firm and well developed.Pick individual leaves from loose-leaf types as soon as the leaves are large enough.
Yield	Nine to ten iceberg plants planted every three weeks will satisfy a family of four.For loose leaf lettuces, plant 5â€“8 plants.
Seed sowing instructions	Sow seed thinly in trays or beds and cover with 50mm of fine soil. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle; keeping them moist at all times.

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