Growing Leaf Lettuce

Variety: Adriana

This page provides written and visual instructions for Growing Leaf Lettuce. Vegetable Gardening Made Easier will be using the Adriana for its model.

The Adriana is an improved Ermosa. Developed by the same talented breeder, Adriana is larger than Ermosa with a broader disease package.

Heads are full and dense with good taste. Good tolerance to tipburn, heat, and bolting, with resistance to downy mildew races 1-16 and LMV.

Plant Cycle: Annual

Days to Maturity: 48

THERMAL DORMANCY: Lettuce can be dormant at high temperatures. For best germination results sow at soil temperatures of 68°F (20°C) or lower. The priming process in pelleted lettuce seeds broadens the temperature range in which the seeds will germinate, overcoming some of a lot's thermal dormancy.

TRANSPLANTING: Sow in flats, 4 seeds/in., or in 3/4" plug trays, barely covering seeds with fine vermiculite, 3-4 weeks before transplanting outdoors. Shade the flats on sunny, warm days if necessary to keep the soil surface cool, below 75°F (24°C), until germination.

If sowing and growing leaf lettuce in flats, transplant 1-2" apart into flats, pots, or cell-type containers about 2 weeks later. Harden seedlings by reducing water and temperature for 2-3 days before planting outdoors. Properly hardened transplants can survive temperatures as low as 20°F (-6°C).

Transplant iceberg lettuce 12" apart in rows 18" apart, other types 8-12" x 12-18" apart. DIRECT SEEDING: Seeds germinate even at low, 40°F (4°C), soil temperature, but poorly above 75-85°F (24-29°C) depending on the variety and seed lot. Cover seed lightly, about 1/8", and firm soil gently. Dry soil must be watered to ensure coolness and moisture, and for even germination.

When growing leaf lettuce, thin young seedlings to one plant per spot. For salad mix: sow in a 2-4" wide band, about 60 seeds/ft.

DAYS TO MATURITY: For full-size heads from direct seeding and growth in mild temperatures; subtract 10-14 days if transplanting. Note: maturity can be 3 or more weeks later in cool weather, and up to 1 week earlier in hot weather.

For seeds, OG means "organically grown" and signifies seeds harvested from plants grown organically, without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides and according to National Organic Program standards.

For supplies, OG signifies products that are approved for use in growing certified organic crops; supplies are listed by OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) when noted in the product description.

On 9-27-09

When growing leaf lettuce, I planted seeds for both varieties indoor pots to go along with the ones we have planted outside in containers.

The plants outside are coming along as we see in the pictures below. Progress has been a bit slow due to the rain and cooler temps we had, but things have warmed up and they are doing much better now.

The picture below is the Adriana Leaf Lettuce. I started these in a container outside.

In the picture below are some Cow Pots and regular bio-degradable pots I planted the Adriana seeds in.

New! Eco-friendly CowPots™ are a nutrient rich, renewable, American product made from recycled cow manure - as seen on TV’s Dirty Jobs!

The invention of two Connecticut dairy farmers, Matt and Ben Freund, these award-winning, 100% biodegradable, transplant pots are made from fully composted manure so they are almost completely odor free.

Transplanting the whole pot prevents root shock. The pots last for months in the greenhouse but when planted will rapidly disintegrate, adding nutrients to the soil, resulting in enhanced root growth and sturdier, healthier plants.

So far I have noticed no smell and they are very hardy compared to regular biodegradable pots.

Visit Cow Pots with Dirty Jobs to see a video on the CowPots.

UPDATE:

12-20-09

It has not been a good fall season for Growing Leaf Lettuce in the house. My plants I started indoors did not do well. I did not have enough light on them. I guess I am not very good at growing stuff indoors.

Then we have had a cool and cloudy fall season. The seeds I planted in the containers did real good. I had some good pictures but my son accidentally erased my pictures off the camera.

Below is a picture of the Adriana Lettuce. It did very well outside but took a little longer to mature than it should have.

For more information visit our pages on How to Grow Lettuce and Growing Lettuce form Seed.

Thank you for your visit.

Go to Lettuce Home Page form Growing Leaf Lettuce.

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