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UC IPM Home > Homes, Gardens, Landscapes, and Turf > Vegetables > Cultural Tips
How to Manage Pests
Pests in Gardens and Landscapes
Planting lettuce
Lettuce can be seeded directly or transplanted into
the garden. It is best planted on raised beds made
by adding large amounts of soil amendments so that
a bed is established above the previous level of soil. If
seeding, plant more seeds than necessary so as
to make up for any losses. Plant seeds in rows 2 feet
apart. Push them into the soil 0.25 inch deep or less.
Fill these holes by scratching the surface, firm the
soil lightly, and cover with a thin mulch of organic
material in order to hold soil moisture. Keep moist
during the germination period. If growing lettuce during
the summer months, protect seedlings from sunburn with
50% shade cloth or two layers of floating row cover
until they have about six leaves. Lettuce plants should
be thinned anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks after plants
reach the three- to four-leaf stage. Thin to 6 inches
between plants for leaf lettuce and to 12 inches for
head lettuce.
For transplants, use young plants with four to six true leaves, wider than tall,
stocky, succulent, and slightly hardened to outdoor conditions. Spread and mix organic amendments
and a good granular phosphorus fertilizer over the area. Mark where you want each plant and make
the hole deep enough to bury the stem as far as the first leaf. Place the plant deep into the
hole. Head lettuce should be spaced 12 inches apart; leaf lettuce 6 inches apart with 2 feet between
rows.
Press the soil firmly around the plant and water thoroughly to remove any air pockets. If transplanting
in the summer, shade the plants in the middle of the day for the first week or use floating row cover. |
Direct
Seed
Transplant
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