Vegetable archives leafy vegetables (8) lettuce
First, the basic information:
The light green leaves have white stem flesh
Lettuce can also be eaten with the tip of the leaf
Chinese name: Lettuce
Scientific name: Lactuca saliva
Aliases: lettuce, lettuce, golden cabbage, green shoots, bamboo shoots, green lettuce
Family: Asteraceae
Distribution: Lettuce is native to the Mediterranean coast and was introduced to China around the 5th century. It is cultivated throughout China and is wild.
Uses: Lettuce is a very common edible vegetable, the stem meat is crisp and tender, stir-fried, cold mixed, simmered soup, dried vegetables or pickled vegetables can be, young leaves can also be eaten.
Second, morphological characteristics
The tip of the lettuce leaf is tender
Lettuce can keep its own seeds
The dark green leaf stem flesh is dark green
Lettuce is an annual or biennial herb. Height 25-100 cm; vertical extension of the root; upright single stem, young stem emerald green, turning white-green after maturity; oval basal leaves are not divided, the edges are wavy or finely serrated; the cephalic flowers are arranged in a conical inflorescence at the top of the stem; the inverted lanceolate fruit is light brown; and the flowering and fruiting period is 2-9 months.
Third, the growth habit
Suitable for cultivation in fertile acidic sandy loam soils
Potted lettuce is watered diligently to keep the potted soil moist
Potted oil wheat and lettuce
1. Temperature. Lettuce is a semi-hardy vegetable, like cold and cold, frost resistant, can tolerate short-term low temperature of -6 °C; afraid of high temperature, poor growth in hot seasons;
2. Sunshine. Lettuce is a long-day crop and strong adaptability, can be cultivated in spring and autumn or overwintering, with spring cultivation, summer harvest is better, autumn sowing needs to be harvested in time at zero degrees.
3. Soil. Lettuce is suitable for planting in slightly acidic soils with a pH of about 6.0, and the soil for growing lettuce is preferably sandy loam and loam.
4. Water and fertilizer. During the growth period, it is necessary to continuously supply water to keep the soil moist; the fertilizer demand is large, and the nitrogen fertilizer in the early stage is mainly based on phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in the later stage.
Fourth, planting points
1. Sowing seedlings. Lettuce is generally planted in spring and autumn, sown in March-May, harvested in June-August, sown in Autumn from August to October, and harvested from November to February. Germination is suitable temperature 15-20 °C, sowing seedlings in high temperature season, need to be treated with low temperature germination, 2-3 days after whitening, sowing, sowing.
2. Fertilize the land. Lettuce has a weak root system, choose loose soil to turn deep and flatten, and apply enough nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to complete the decomposition of organic fertilizer, chicken manure and pigeon manure are the best, and kitchen waste is also a good choice.
3. Transplanting seedlings. Lettuce seedlings grow 3-4 true leaves when and when seedlings. Transplant when 5-6 true leaves grow in about 40 days, seedlings can be transplanted at 22-25 days old, the planting row spacing is 20/15%, and it can also be reasonably densely planted, and the young leaves are harvested and then eaten on the stem.
4. Water and fertilizer management. Lettuce is fertilized once after planting to promote the growth of seedlings; loosen the soil and weed 2-3 times; when the fleshy stem begins to expand, combined with watering, add nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer every ten days, and water it with water after human urine and kitchen waste; water remains moist; stop the supply of water and fertilizer 10 days before harvesting to promote stem maturation.
5. Timely harvesting
。 When the lettuce heart leaf is held to the tip of the tallest leaf, it can be picked and eaten.
Fifth, the introduction of varieties
Purple-tipped leaf lettuce
Purple round leaf lettuce
Green-tipped leaf lettuce
Green round leaf lettuce
Lettuce can be divided into two types according to the shape of the leaves: pointed leaves and round leaves, and the color of each type of stem and leaf is divided into white shoots, green shoots and purple shoots.
The leaves are lanceolate, with smaller clusters of leaves, smooth or slightly wrinkled leaf surfaces, and green or purple in color. The fleshy stem is rod-shaped, thick and thin below. It matures late, and the seedling stage is more heat-tolerant, and can be cultivated in autumn or overwintering.
The leaves of the round-leaved lettuce are inverted and ovate, with larger leaf clusters and more leaf surfaces, and are green or purple in color. The stem is thick, the ripening period is early, the cold tolerance is strong, the heat is not tolerant, and it is mostly cultivated as overwintering spring lettuce.
Outer article: Pickled lettuce
Harvested in batches and then pickled
Lettuce begins to show its buds and can be harvested at once
Every year, the lettuce planted in the spring, it is crazy like the long brush, not harvested in time will soon be old and not suitable for eating, often a harvest is a large bundle, then you can pickle lettuce. Here's how:
1. Harvest and peel. When the lettuce is just budding, the lettuce is harvested at one time, and the lettuce with a thick stem and neat size is selected, the leaves and roots are removed, the outer skin is peeled off, and the water is left to dry after washing.
2. Finish and marinate. Cut the lettuce into strips and soak them in brine for 3-4 hours; lettuce strips become soft and fish out, fill the basket with drainage; then, at a ratio of 10:1, put a layer of lettuce into a basin; then sprinkle a layer of salt, press a stone and marinate for one day.
3. Drying and loading altars. Salted lettuce is fished out and spread out in a ventilated area to dry. When the sun is half dry, add ginger, peppercorns, garlic, sugar and peppers, mix well, put in the jar and seal, about 10-15 days can be eaten.
In addition, lettuce can also be dried and made into kimchi, and the taste is also very delicious.