An heirloom iceberg lettuce variety, first introduced in 1941. Keep the area well mulched and test soil moisture regularly. In the tropics you can only grow lettuce during the cooler months. In this workshop, David Sparks[...], © 2021 Sustainable Gardening Australia. Remember, “Iceberg” is not the only lettuce around,  try a variety of lettuces. Australia is a very big country with vast climate regions. Choose a variety marked on the seed packet as suitable for the time of year as some do badly in the very hot months. FRUIT & VEGETABLES – plant artichoke, beetroot, capsicum, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, pumpkin, radish, shallots, spring onion and tomato. In Manila, the best time to grow lettuce is when the average daily temperature drops below 30 degrees Celsius- or sometime from November to around early-February. Cool/Mountain region. Summary. Well, as long as it is cool enough. Contact us | Lettuce has long been a staple salad ingredient throughout Australia and is very easy to grow from seed. Now, remembering that lettuce ar… Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an annual plant of the daisy family, Asteraceae.It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable, but sometimes for its stem and seeds. Water is vital. Cos lettuce are great in cooler climes, and can easily become a winter favourite. The plant is easy to grow and requires minimal maintenance. Gardening Australia podcasts. Lactuca virosa is biennial, similar to prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola but taller – it can grow to 200 cm (80 inches or almost 7 feet). Where to Grow Lettuce. Choose a pot at least 200mm and position in full sun. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) – a reliable summer favourite, salad filler and sandwich staple! Most lettuces dislike really hot conditions, especially when it is combined with high humidity. This determines how long it takes them all to mature. Wild Lettuce is native to the Mediterranean region and prefers light, well-drained soils in an open, sunny position. Crisphead varieties (which includes the ubiquitous Icebergs) take about ten to twelve weeks to mature, and should be harvested roots and all. •Production and yields fell slightly in 2009, but there was a small rise in the area planted. Snapshot •The value of lettuce production rose by 11.3% to $187 million in 2008/09. Grown hydroponically using nutrients and water without the need for soil, our Little Gem Lettuce will take 3-5 weeks in summer and 4-6 weeks in winter before being ready for harvest. ‘Set’ AGM:A crisphead lettuce, this is easy to grow and produces large, solid hearts with crisp green leaves. This Primefact includes information on: Lettuce grown hydroponically in Mr Stacky Tower Gardens; * Grows best in the cooler months * Needs full sun during winter (min 4-6 hours p/day) and shaded sun during summer * Should be continually planted at intervals of 3 weeks to ensure a continuous harvest * Will be ready for harvest from 30 – 60 days from sowing (depending on the variety) Have a look around in your garden shop or nursery,  most nurseries will sell a lettuce mix as well as punnet’s of a particular ‘type’. However, even though lettuce likes to grow during cool, damp days, lettuce seed germinates best in temperature around 70 degrees F. This means you should start early spring plantings in the garden with seedlings, rather than seed. If you want to grow lettuce in the middle of summer, then as I’ve said, grow it … •Lettuce was Australia’s 6th largest vegetable crop in 2008/09, accounting for 6.2% of total vegetable production by value. I live in Perth and very keen to know what is doing it and how I can control them Warm Areas: All Year Round! Try to provide some shade to prevent them 'bolting' to flower and seed in the hottest months. 11 Jul 20, Valmai (Australia - sub-tropical climate), 13 Jul 20, (Australia - temperate climate), 20 Jan 20, Miles (Australia - temperate climate), 21 Jan 20, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate), 20 Aug 19, Graham (Australia - sub-tropical climate), 21 Aug 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate), 15 Aug 19, Karen (Australia - cool/mountain climate), 18 Aug 19, Nicole (Australia - temperate climate), 16 Aug 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate), 19 Aug 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate). Lettuces are big fans of position and timing. Lettuce is a cool season crop that will bolt or fail to fix heads when daytime temperatures are higher than 70 F. (21 C.) Although relatively easy to grow, head lettuce problems may range from slug and snail damage to loose heads. Lettuce is categorized as two types: head (iceberg) and leaf, which includes romaine, butterhead, and leaf types. In terms of annual eatings per capita, lettuce salads rank second only to potatoes. Drought and frost tender. Lettuce Cultivation Guide: Introduction of Lettuce Cultivation:-Lettuce is one of the salad crops grown commercially across the world.Lettuce was grown for centuries and was originated in Asia continent. Lettuce is most often used for salads, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps; it can also be grilled. Summertime in the Philippines can be very hot which sometimes causes the lettuce … 20 Jan 20, Miles (Australia - temperate climate) I am trying to grow lettuce in soil I have added my home compost to. With a large variety of types and therefore flavours, lettuce isn’t just reduced to your Cos or iceberg! All of which can be avoided. There is an amazing range of lettuce, from one-serve meal types such as the butter and mignonette varieties, to ones with ornate and decorative leaves like radicchio, ‘Red Coral’ and oak leaf lettuces. Available as seedlings, but also germinates readily from seed. There are so many varieties out there, as well as varieties specific to just about any climate, meaning that lettuce can basically be grown anywhere, anytime. If lettuce seed is put in the ground while it is still cold and wet, the seed will simply rot. Butterheads are similar to crispies, only smaller. You can also deliver a half strength seaweed solution at planting time, as this is great for encouraging robust root growth. and bolting. Summary. Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, Onions, Strawberries, Beets, Brassicas, Radish, Marigold, Borage, Chervil, Florence fennel, leeks. 2) Lettuce. If soil is left to dry out, lettuce may run to seed creating a wasted plant, taste bitter or unfortunately die. Lettuce is versatile and incredibly easy to grow. But it can be grown year round, with very little tender loving care after making sure that there is adequate feed. Lettuce prefers a bright, open position with good air circulation to promote strong, disease-free growth. Grow lettuce in any well-drained, fertile soil. About Lettuce. A partial guide has been prepared for you, but with most ‘guides’  things vary, depending on where you are; Snails are by far the biggest pest associated with lettuce, as are slugs and earwigs to a lesser extent. It matures early and has soft leaves with a mild taste. Soil improved over time with plenty of compost is ideal. About Gardenate | There are so many varieties of lettuce available for gardens now that if we included them here, this would be a very long article. (Best months for growing Lettuce in Australia - temperate regions), T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings P = Sow seed. Lettuce is a cool season crop and is best grown in either spring or fall when temperatures do not go to extremes. The best way to ensure this is to make sure you prepare your beds correctly with composts and manures. Growing lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an easy and inexpensive way to put fresh gourmet salad greens on the table.As a cool-season crop, lettuce grows well with the cool, moist weather available in spring and fall. Knowing what is going to be best eaten in Winter and Spring makes a huge impact on the environment – it can lead to eating more locally grown produce than relying on off season fruit and vegetables being trucked and flown to your area. It's a favourite with gardeners as it grows well in summer when … Skip to main content. Fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. ‘Nymans’ AGM:A Cos lettuce with deep read outer leaves and a rich green heart. Lettuce The ABS Survey 2009 ( Australian Bureau of Statistics ), shows the Queensland industry produced 55,961 t worth $70.65 grown on 2,293 ha. Instead we suggest that you go to your local garden centre to find out what’s available locally. Lettuce does NOT like hot weather. You can always start seed indoors and then transplant the seedlings when all d… Climate zones | Here is our Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Guide Australia. All seedlings get nibbled down to nothing at night and I can't identify what is going it. These guys are heartless so therefore can be picked as needed. Sow in rows and use thinnings as small salad greens. They usually appreciate not having to throw away something that is just waste to them. Lettuce is a part of the daisy family and is grown as a leafy green vegetable. Now when you're using PVC pipe like this for planting into, it's important that you use new, Australian made stormwater pipe which is designed to carry potable water so it's safe to grow food in. A chinese cos-style lettuce 'Glenda White' that I got from seed savers years ago does particularly well through winter. Lettuce is traditionally a cool season veggie (a bit like coriander), which means they prefer to be planted in cooler weather. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Sprinkle in some seed at any time of year and this quick growing vegetable will be ready in weeks. One environmentally beneficial suggestion is coffee grounds spread around your patch, either your own or contact your local café. This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. Get our app for iPhone, There are a range of options to deter these salad munching thieves before they get to your lunch. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided. But I come from a cooler climate originally. Join our 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter. Hi, my name is: Lettuce is a great addition to your salad. Pest problems are easy to deal with, but only climactic conditions can ensure head formation. Dry Inland (includes: Arid or Outback areas) HERBS – basil will grow very quickly … Growing Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa) How To Grow Lettuce In Warm Weather. However modern plant breeding means there are now lettuces available acrossAustraliathat are suitable for planting all year long. However modern plant breeding means there are now lettuces available acrossAustraliathat are suitable for planting all year long. Head sizes range from 0.3Œ0.5 kg for hydroponically grown Garden Snail The cultivated lettuce Lactuca sativa is a popular salad vegetable and is grown on all continents throughout the world including Australia.. Sow in spring or autumn as you would lettuce. Cos varieties are my favourites, take about ten – eleven weeks to grow up, and outer leaves can be harvested while the lettuce is still growing. Water lettuce grows best on still or slow moving bodies of fresh water such as farm dams, reservoirs, lakes, rivers and creeks. They need to be grown quickly for best flavour and appearance. Do this by lightly working compost and a little bit of pelletised manure based fertiliser through the soil, followed by mulch, to a depth of about 5-7cm. Easy to grow. Set up a beer trap, see the snails factsheet for this and other great tips on how discourage snails and slugs. Lettuce needs a well-drained soil with loads of organic matter (like crumbly compost), a bit of a seaweed feed and some lovely mulch. There are so many varieties of lettuce available for gardens now that if we included them here, this would be a very long article. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 27°C. Growing lettuce is relatively easy. 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