Want to grow your own salad?
It is true that it is better to avoid salads from supermarkets, especially those in sachets!
Fortunately, lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to grow in containers.
We harvest fresh, crunchy and organic leaves in just a few days.
Very practical when you don't have a vegetable garden, live in an apartment or just have a balcony!
In addition, the lettuce produces leaves continuously. Which means you'll have it every day of the year!
Lettuce is rich in water, fiber, vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium.
It is therefore perfect for those who have problems with intestinal transit, and also contributes to the proper functioning of the nervous system.
If you sow it from seed, you will start harvesting lettuce in 8 weeks for most varieties.
But I advise you to buy it as a plant and transplant it into a pot. In a few days, the first leaves will appear.
Here is how to grow salad in a pot easily even for those who are new to gardening . Watch:
Almost all varieties of lettuce grow well in pots.
Since their roots are shallow, they don't need much depth.
In fact, they grow even better in wide, shallow containers.
It is enough that the pot is drained thanks to holes to evacuate the water and that it is less than 15 cm deep.
You can use any material for the pots, such as plastic, clay or terracotta pots.
My advice:if you are growing lettuce in a pot in a hot climate, choose clay pots and plant heat-resistant varieties.
Lettuce prefers temperate climates and a semi-shaded exposure.
It can therefore be grown from spring to autumn in most regions.
Do not hesitate to protect it from frosts or put your pot in a small greenhouse.
If you live in a warm region, you can also grow it in winter.
Lettuce is grown from seeds or seedlings. You can also buy young shoots from a local producer.
To enjoy a continuous harvest, make successive sowings:every 2 weeks during the growing season.
As they will grow staggered, you will always have salad to eat.
In summer, if it's too hot, put it in a cool, shady place so you can continue to grow it.
If you are growing lettuce in a pot, it is best to cut off the leaves you need as you go.
In other words, you let it grow, and you cut when you need to.
This way you don't really have to worry about the space between the salads.
If you are sowing seeds, sow densely then thin the seedlings as they grow by regularly picking the tender young leaves.
Keep a space of 10 to 15 cm between plants.
Be careful, head lettuces require more space and a 20 cm deep pot
Lettuce loves sunlight and even more so when growing in a cool climate.
But know that it also grows very easily in a partially shaded place.
If you are growing lettuce in a hot climate with strong sun, it is best to place your pot in the sun only in the morning.
During the hottest hours of the day, it is therefore recommended to create shade to prevent the soil from being too dry.
Indeed, lettuce prefers to have a slightly moist soil at all times.
So don't hesitate to move the pot to a cool place when the temperature rises too high.
Otherwise you risk grilling your plant...
To grow a good lettuce, use a good quality soil mix with plenty of organic matter.
Compost and peat are perfect for the salad.
You can also add a little manure or well-rotted compost.
The soil must be clayey and well drained so as not to retain too much water.
In a shallow pot, water your salad frequently.
Why ? Because it prevents the plant from drying out completely.
Be sure to maintain slightly moist soil, but do not overwater.
Indeed, if you water your lettuce too often, it can lead to root rot.
There are many varieties of salads, so which ones to choose when you arrive at the garden centre?
If you grow them in pots, choose salads with low development to prevent them from taking up too much space.
Blonde oak leaf, batavia "lattughino" or "Tom Pouce" lettuce are good choices.
If you eat a lot of salad, opt for fast-growing salads like arugula, "ice queen" or "Grand rapids" cut lettuce.
There are also salads with pretty red colors such as "Grenobloise red" or "Merlot" lettuce.
My advice:mix all these varieties to have pretty colorful pots and treat yourself with different tastes.
As lettuces grow and harvest quickly, all you need to do is add a little fertilizer to boost their production.
Before fertilizing, wait a few weeks for the seedlings to be well rooted.
What type of fertilizer to choose? Obviously, avoid buying chemical fertilizers!
Lettuces don't need this to grow.
The best is therefore to choose from one of these 5 natural fertilizers here.
Some pests will quickly spot your salad in a jar to enjoy it!
It is therefore important to carry out a small monitoring regularly.
However, if the plants do not mold and remain healthy, there is much less chance of disease developing.
Be aware that mildew, leaf spot, mold are the most common in lettuce.
From the point of view of pests, caterpillars, cutworms, aphids, maggots and beetles are the main enemies of lettuce.
To discover: The Natural Insecticide Every Gardener Should Know.
Once the leaves have reached a height of 10 to 15 cm, pick the outer leaves one by one.
Or cut the leaves 2-3 cm above the base or crown.
On the other hand, it is very important not to cut under the crown, otherwise your salad risks dying...
By using this method of harvesting, your lettuce grows endlessly and you will be able to harvest it all season long.
You can also pick the lettuce leaves before they mature.
It's simple, just remove the outer leaves when you need them and let the middle leaves grow.
