Romaine lettuce, romaine lettuce – cultivation, plants, care and varieties

The romaine lettuce, also known as lettuce, can be sown as early as February in the protected area of ​​the greenhouse, cold frame or room. Garden enthusiasts can choose between individual growing pots, seed trays or multi-pot pallets. The available space will usually be decisive for the decision:

• Fill the cultivation vessel with a special nutrient-poor substrate.
• Spread the seeds on the ground and press 1 cm to 2 cm deep.
• The germination time is 10 to 14 days in a light, not too warm place.
• A germination temperature above 16 ° Celsius becomes germ-inhibiting.
• Keep the seeds and substrate slightly moist during this phase.
• When the first pairs of leaves show up, the lettuce can be separated.
• In March and April they are not yet planted outdoors due to the risk of frost.
• A heated cold box with a transparent lid is more suitable.
• The young lettuce plants can be put into the bed from mid-May.

Depending on the variety, romaine lettuce can be sown and harvested over and over again throughout the summer. The varieties that are suitable for sowing from May onwards are of course no longer preferred in the greenhouse, in the room or in the cold box. In this case, however, the seeds in the bed must be protected against pecking birds and voracious pests, for example in the form of a garden fleece or foil.

Seed tape simplifies sowing

Once the young plants have reached a size of 3 cm, they must be moved to a greater distance so that they do not interfere with each other in their further growth. This rather tedious work is no longer necessary if the hobby gardener carries out direct sowing with the help of seed bands:

• Thoroughly clear the bed of weeds and stones.
• Smooth the earth with a rake.
• Make furrows 1 cm deep.
• Moisten the seed tape well and place it in the furrow.
• Cover thinly with soil and water generously.

The seeds are laid out on the seed belts in such a way that they do not have to be warped. However, they do not spare the hardworking gardener from having to hoe and weed regularly.

plant

Before planting the lettuce plants grown by hand or bought ready-made, the bed is prepared with green manure from March onwards. These are available in various inexpensive seed mixtures that serve to improve the soil in a natural way. Simply sow by hand and later work into the soil. Alternatively, the bed soil is enriched with well-matured compost. Manure is unsuitable because it attacks the delicate roots of the plants. If the potting soil is a little too heavy and clayey, add a little sand. At the chosen location it is preferably sunny and sheltered from the wind. There the seeds are laid out in furrows that are marked beforehand by taut cords. The straighter the attachment, the easier the maintenance work. A plant spacing of 30 cm to 35 cm is ideal for the romaine lettuce, with a row spacing of at least 40 cm. The young plant is lifted out of its nursery pot and pulled apart slightly if it has already developed a dense root ball. After digging a small hollow with the hand shovel, the romaine lettuce is only inserted deep enough so that the lettuce heart is above the ground. Plants that are too deeply set are at risk of rot. Press the soil lightly, water well and you’re done. The harvest begins after around 8 weeks of ripening. Incidentally, it is possible to sow or plant again immediately afterwards. it should already have developed a dense root ball. After digging a small hollow with the hand shovel, the romaine lettuce is only inserted deep enough so that the lettuce heart is above the ground. Plants that are too deeply set are at risk of rot. Press the soil lightly, water well and you’re done. The harvest begins after around 8 weeks of ripening. Incidentally, it is possible to sow or plant again immediately afterwards. it should already have developed a dense root ball. After digging a small hollow with the hand shovel, the romaine lettuce is only inserted deep enough so that the lettuce heart is above the ground. Plants that are too deeply set are at risk of rot. Press the soil lightly, water well and you’re done. The harvest begins after around 8 weeks of ripening. Incidentally, it is possible to sow or plant again immediately afterwards.

Like any garden salad, the romaine lettuce is also ideally suited as an intermediate culture for long-ripening vegetables such as Brussels sprouts. The romaine lettuce goes well with vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli or tomatoes. In addition, romaine lettuce is the ideal post-crop for heavy eaters, such as potatoes or aubergines, melons and cucumbers.

maintenance

Until the 35 cm to 40 cm high plants are harvested, the lettuce does not require a lot of maintenance:

• Chop and weed regularly
• Keep well moist.
• Mulching reduces weed growth.
• A good mulch is lawn clippings.
• Alternatively, mulch film can also be used.
• Do not let the irrigation water run over the leaves.
• Now and then work some compost into the soil for fertilization.
• For older varieties, tie the leaves together.

Tests have shown that while mulch and mulch film keep weed growth under control and the soil moist and warm, they do not noticeably affect the ripening period and crop yield. The advantage of less maintenance during the cultivation should not be disregarded.

Popular varieties

Romanasalat Counter Lactuca sativa romana

• Sow March to August
• Harvest from May to October
• Germination time 7 to 10 days at 15 ° Celsius
• resistant variety with firm heads
• ideal for summer cultivation

Romanasalat Ovired Lactuca sativa romana

• Sow outdoors from March to August
• Sow in the greenhouse from September to February
• Clocktiefe 2 cm
• resistant to downy mildew
• Sheets must be tied together.

Römischer Salat, Green of gardeners

• Sow March to August
• Maximum sowing depth 0.5 cm
• Inner leaves with a lot of bite
• Can be kept refrigerated for several days after harvest

Romanasalat Attiko Lactuca sativa

• supplies particularly tender lettuce hearts
• Growth height up to a maximum of 12 cm
• Germination time 6 to 14 days
• Germination temperature not above 16 ° Celsius

Romasalat Goodison Lactuca sativa

• Sow March to July
• long oval, dark green heads
• self closing
• heat resistant and resistant

Römersalat Carolus Lactuca sativa

• Sow in the greenhouse from March to June
• Sow outdoors July to August
• Heat tolerant light to medium green head
• no binding required

Romana-Salat – Red Cimarron

• classic variety with dark red leaves
• loose head of lettuce must be tied
• can be harvested as a baby lettuce after 35 days
• particularly sweet, mild taste

Romanasalat Green Vegetable

• exclusive variety from Italy
• early harvest from May and June
• Sowing possible from 10 ° Celsius outdoors
• elongated, closely spaced leaves
• No need to tie
• typical ingredient in Italian cuisine

Romaine lettuce “Kasseler Strünkchen” Lactuca sativa var. Longifolia

• regional North Hessian salad specialty
• Sow March to July
• the stalks are used as asparagus salad
• also known as cabbage
• Tying the leaves together will keep the hearts tender

Three of the most unusual historical varieties are very rarely available in stores because they have red-dotted or marbled leaves, which inexperienced consumers mistakenly believe to be dead spots. However, anyone who has tasted this romaine lettuce will appreciate its unusually mild, aromatic taste and the extremely tender leaves:

Romaine lettuce Trout shot Lactuca sativa var. Longifolia

• ancient variety
• Sow from March to July
• delicate leaves with red spots
• requires more nitrogen than other varieties
• Tie together required

Lettuce Hirschzunge Lactuca sativa var. longifolia

• Bred by the American Amish People
• medium-sized, green heads
• Can be sown under glass from February
• early harvest from May
• must be tied together

Romaine lettuce devil’s tongue Lactuca sativa var. Longifolia

• historical variety from France
• green-red marbled leaves
• shooting very late
• tender lettuce hearts
• the outer leaves are ideal as a salad

Whichever variety the hobby gardener chooses. When it comes to harvesting, he should always keep in mind that romaine lettuce – like most other salads – builds up nitrates in the leaves. The salary is highest in the early morning and slowly declines as the day progresses. Therefore, the lettuce should not be harvested before noon.

Diseases and pests

Since the romaine lettuce is grown for consumption, the environmentally and health-conscious hobby gardener refrains from using any chemical preparations when it comes to combating diseases and pests. Fortunately, their number has been reduced significantly thanks to the breeding of new, resistant varieties. Nevertheless, the romaine lettuce is not completely immune to infection. For prevention and control, it is therefore advisable to treat the crop as experienced organic gardeners do:

• Keep the soil pH at 6.5 to 7.
• Do not grow cruciferous vegetables or sunflowers as previous crops.
• Potatoes as a preculture leave weed-free soil.
• Only plant freshly plowed meadow areas after 2 years.
• Do not fall below the planting distance of 35 cm.
• Never neglect thorough hoeing and weeding.
• Water only early in the morning.
• Prefer culture resistant varieties.
• Fertilize with manure or compost.
• Attract natural predators from pests.

Probably the most important requirement for a healthy cultivation of romaine lettuce is the use of organic seeds. This is produced without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides. In addition, it usually comes from the region, so the seeds are used to the local climatic conditions. When making a purchase, the knowledgeable gardening enthusiast makes sure that the bottling was no more than 1 year ago and that the packaging is impermeable to light and moisture. Incidentally, the advantages of organic seeds have meanwhile got around among hobby gardeners, so that in early spring there is great demand and delivery times are long. Those who order in good time have the seeds at hand when the optimal time for sowing has come.

Conclusion
Romaine lettuce is not only more stable than lettuce or plucked lettuce, it is also more versatile, because its outer leaves are also suitable for delicious dishes from the saucepan. Anyone who is familiar with the uncomplicated cultivation of garden lettuce has no problems with growing, planting and caring for romaine lettuce. So that the fresh enjoyment from your own garden comes to the table as early as possible, sowing in a protected environment – depending on the variety – is possible as early as February. Modern cultivation techniques, such as the seed bands, relieve the gardener of many a laborious stoop. In return, historical varieties of romaine lettuce allow a culinary journey into the past. In view of this abundance of good properties, the binding salad should also make a useful addition to many vegetable patches in the future.