How to grow lettuce: quick and easy tips for growing the vegetable

Lettuce is one of the most cultivated vegetables in the world, with a variety of species, colors, and textures. Its cultivation is a relatively easy activity, which requires care and cultural treatments in order to have a quality production. If your desire is to have a small garden at home, you will find out how to grow lettuce in order to cultivate a tasty and healthy food.

How to grow lettuce in pots

Lettuce is one of the easiest leaves to grow indoors. All you need to do is take care of its luminosity, humidity, and other little cares to have yours right now. Check it out:

Materials Required

• Lettuce seed
• Plastic Vase
• Earth
• Water
• Fertilizer

Step by step

1. Choose the type of lettuce you want to have planted
2. Use a plastic vase with holes, to make it easier for the excess water to escape
3. Fill the pot with soil and leave 2.5 cm of space between the soil surface and the edge
4. Throw the lettuce seeds under the pot, but avoid putting too many in one place
5. Cover the seeds with another amount of soil
6. Water your pot every day for two weeks to facilitate germination
7. Then, water every other day, facilitating its humidity
8. Leave your plant in a sunny place with favorable ventilation
9. Once a week, use a fertilizer to increase your production
10. Harvest and enjoy your lettuces

The cool thing is that by growing lettuce at home, you have more convenience, savings, and, in addition, eat a much fresher food.

How to plant lettuce with the stalk

Lettuce is a vegetable that can be reproduced in your home window. All you have to do when you buy it is to analyze the base of the plant and see if it is healthy, since that is where the new leaves will come from. See how simple this process is:

Materials Required

• Lettuce stalk
• Knife
• Pot
• Water

Step by step

1. Cut the leaves off the head of the lettuce and leave the base about 10 cm long
2. Place this base in a pot with water, to renew it
3. Wait for these leaves to grow and cut them off
4. This process will be repeated for several cycles, until the base health is exhausted

Just pay attention when you buy your lettuce to be able to reproduce it from your own home. Enjoy!

How to plant lettuce with the root

This is by far the simplest method:

Materials Required

• Lettuce root
• Long container
• Water

Step by step

1. Take the lettuce root and place in a container of water
2. Change this water when it is running low or has a brownish color
3. Wait a few days until it starts to sprout
4. Prepare pots and plant these sprouts in it, to increase durability

This is a very cool method, but it is not very durable. The ideal is to use this root to replant in pots or directly in the ground. But remember: no waste. Use this idea to reuse the root right now!

How to plant lettuce in a garden bed

By producing a lettuce bed, it is possible to consume a fresh vegetable, without the use of agrochemicals, as well as sell this product. This tip is essential for you who have a leftover bed at home and want to start this planting.

Materials Required

• Lettuce seed
• Curved shovel
• Water

Step by step

1. Start the process by opening the pits, which should be approximately 10 cm deep and 8 cm wide
2. Place 3 seeds together and close the holes with a layer of soil
3. This germination process lasts 15 days
4. Irrigate your plant at intervals of one day. Be careful not to soak the soil
5. Be careful with insects and fungus, so as not to ruin your flowerbed
6. Take care of your plantation daily, manually removing any pests that may appear
7. After 50 days of planting, it is time to harvest.
8. Now it's time to try it out!

Planting in beds requires some special care, especially when diseases and pests appear. But the care is also worthwhile, since the production can be even greater and it is even possible to resell your lettuce.

How to grow lettuce in an apartment

If you love vegetables and want to have your own, fresh, without pesticides and save some money, it is ideal that you learn how to grow your lettuce. Space is not a problem, since it fits even in an apartment. Just follow some tips for it to grow healthy. Check it out:

Materials Required

• Lettuce seed or seedling
• Vase
• Earth
• Water
• Rocks
• Home Fertilizers

Step by step

1. Define the place where it will be, it must be ventilated and receive sunlight most of the day
2. Choose the most suitable pot for growing your lettuce
3. The most indicated are those made of ceramic or plastic, with holes in the base and at least one inch deep.
4. Place stones or pieces of wood at the base of the pot, to facilitate the fertilization process
5. Add soil to the pot, make a hole in the middle and plant your seedling or seed
6. Water your lettuce every day or at most alternate them, preferably in the late afternoon
7. Fertilize weekly with homemade methods such as coffee grounds, shredded eggshells, and vegetable peelings
8. Wait for the right time to harvest your vegetable, on average it will take 60 days
9. When the leaves are bulky, cut them at a height of 2.5 cm from the ground

There's no excuse, right? Take advantage of these tips and start planting right now!

How to grow lettuce in water

The main advantage of this method is that it holds up in any climatic situation and can be grown all year round:

Materials Required

• Lettuce seed
• Hydroponic Fertilizer
• Calcium nitrate
• Epsom salt
• Plate
• Water
• Large plastic pot
• Knife
• Glass

Step by step

1. Keep the lettuce seeds in the bowl of water for two weeks
2. During this period, replenish the water if it dries out
3. Make holes in the lid of the plastic pot and transfer the seeds that were reserved
4. Place the seedlings side by side on the lid of the pot
5. Fill the container with water
6. Mix 2 tablespoons of hydroponic fertilizer, 2 tablespoons of calcium nitrate, and 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt, rich in magnesium and sulfate
7. Shake this mixture and pour it into the plastic container along with a glass of water
8. Cover the container and place it in a place where the plant will receive sunlight
9. Wait 45 days for your lettuce to be harvested

Lettuce, when grown in water, is called hydroponic. The cool thing is that it can be grown in small spaces, even in your home. Very easy, right?

How to care for a lettuce plant

• Pay attention to the temperature of the place: This vegetable is mainly suitable in warmer regions, since its cultivation works especially in places with temperatures ranging from 15ºC to 25ºC. Lettuce is also a friend of the sun, so it is indicated that at least during one period of the day, the plant should be directly exposed to it.
• Place your lettuce in a ventilated place: Air circulation favors the growth and planting of lettuce, so places that catch a lot of wind are ideal for this vegetable to grow with quality.
• Water every other day: It is indispensable that the soil is very moist, but never waterlogged, so water your little plant every other day.
• Do manual cleaning on a daily basis: Remove the yellow leaves or any pests that may appear, avoiding the appearance of diseases. Do not use agrotoxics, do it manually. This way, you will have fresh food in your own home.

Now all you have to do is put all these tips into practice and plant your lettuce right now. Let's go! And if space is a problem for you, here are ideas for making a vertical vegetable garden.