'Mature leaves' can be harvested from all type of lettuce except for iceberg any time in the growing cycle, until a central stem begins to form. So I thought I would check and see when everyone else is … Lime to at least 6.0. If the ground is still frozen, then plant these as soon as the ground thaws. When to Plant Lettuce. Seed germinates best at about 75 degrees F. Lettuce seed will germinate at a temperature as low as 40 degrees F. document.write(''); Do the same with lettuce and spinach. Rub the seed heads between your hands to release more seeds. Cole crops like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage can be direct seeded into your garden around February 7, assuming the ground can be worked, but it's better to start them indoors around January 10 and then transplant them into the garden around February 29. However, if you’re going to grow greens in a cold frame, you’re meant to harvest them when the leaves are only 3″ or so high so you won’t be waiting around for the plant to get to full mature size. When planting, make sure each seed is planted 1/2 inch deep in the soil. Cole crops like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage can be direct seeded into your garden around August 21, but because of the heat during that time of year, it's better to start them indoors around July 2 and then transplant them into the garden around August 11. The last month that you can plant lettuce and expect a good harvest is probably September . Sow the seeds of peas (sugar snap and english) at the same time. Knowing when to plant greens (such as spinach, kale, and lettuce) depends on your climate and if the leaf vegetables are heat- or cold-tolerant. Keep frost dates in mind when deciding when to plant to ensure you have a garden that grows and produces as much as possible. Romaine and Butterhead lettuce can be harvested in about 60 to 70 days from planting. Anyway, it's important to remember that the numbers in this fall planting guide are only a starting point for you! Rubbing separates the plumes and chaff from the seeds. cgjsmith. Plant lettuce seeds into well prepared beds that have been amended by digging in a 2-inch layer of organic matter, such as compost or rotted manure, and an all-purpose granular fertilizer. Depth and Spacing. GROWING NOTES Select options. Varieties: Bibb, Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Butterhead, Cos, Crisphead, Green Leaf, Head, Iceberg, Leaf, Looseleaf, Mesclun Greens, Oakleaf, Parris Island, Red Leaf, Red Salad Bowl, Romaine. Mature plants aren't as tolerant of freezing as seedlings. document.write(''); The earliest that you can plant lettuce in Virginia Beach is February. Many varieties of looseleaf lettuce can be harvested numerous times during a single growing season after being cut approximately 1" above the ground. Sow in 1-inch cells 3 to 4 weeks before transplanting outside. Soak seed furrows well before sowing seed and mulch lightly. When to plant vegetables? Water lightly but consistently. Be sure to check out our newest seed packs, available now from Heirloom Organics. In my Northern Virginia garden, I sow seeds in containers and the garden bed in March and again every 2 weeks thereafter until the end of May. May we recommend that you take a look at our excellent, Gardening in the fall can be much more challenging than spring planting, because you are in a race to get your crops mature and harvested. Greens grow year-round in areas with mild summers and winters, such as the West Coast. This is my first spring here in SW Virginia. Having said that, we note that your location has a shorter than average growing season. Iceberg (crisphead) varieties take longer and should be harvested as soon as a head develops but before outer leaves turn brown. Space other varieties 6 to 10 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. The Genesis Garden s a very popular Bible Garden collection. Lettuce seeds are very small so just press them into wet soil. The last month that you can plant romaine lettuce and expect a good harvest is probably September. Gain access to free articles, tips, ideas, pictures and everything gardening, . Make succession plantings every week or two, and grow several varieties with different maturity dates for a continuous supply. To store lettuce first wash it well by immersing in water and swishing it around. If you are wondering when the best time to plant vegetables in a specific area is, or what types tend to do better where you live, a planting and growing calendar is the first place you should look. Baby greens are collected when between approximately 28-35 days after germination, and are collected. You will find both Spring and Fall planting guides on this page. A new Virginia-specific gardening book by Southern Exposure’s own gardening expert Ira Wallace. Keep soil moist to keep plants growing continuously. When the soil temperature is 60° at a depth of 4 inches, then plant your garlic. Good luck and good gardening to you. Now, for all the summer vegetables like beans, cowpeas, corn, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds and sunflowers, you should plant those seeds directly into the ground around May 1, or if your soil is still very cold, once the soil is near 60° F in temperature. Sensitive to low pH. To successfully plant cool-weather vegetables in Virginia, sow earlier and later in the year, depending on the area of the state. When Should You Transplant Seedlings? In fall, start sowing again eight weeks before the fall frost. The way to be sure is to use a soil thermometer. Binomial Name: Lactuca sativa See more ideas about growing lettuce, lettuce, veggie garden. Did you find this useful? Plant onion starts and potatoes around March 2. Sow fall plantings 6-8 weeks before first expected frost. For fall crops, time maturity around time of first expected frost. Plant early—as much as 4 weeks before your last frost, or even in early fall. Lettuce has a shallow root system. For example, our first frost usually arrives right around October 1 st, so we start planting lettuce either in the garden or indoors in our seed starter on August 1 st. The Super Food Garden is the most nutrient dense garden you can build and everything you need is right here in one pack. Sow indoors 3 weeks before planting date. Place it in a colander and rinse then drip dry. Plant in the spring, starting two weeks before frost. When to plant lettuce, peas, cabbage and broccolie? To encourage tender and tasty growth, make sure location is rich in organic compost matter. Plant sets and plants from early April to May 1. and end up killing all our plants ha ha. When to Plant Vegetables in Richmond, Virginia. Does your lettuce need to be protected from frost? Lettuce flowers and turns bitter with the onset of hot weather. On average, your frost-free growing season starts May 1 and ends Oct 30, totalling 182 days. Direct seed or transplant in early spring, as soon as you can work the soil. Learn what to plant, when to plant and harvest for the best results in different regions of Virginia from monthly planting guides. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); if ($(window).width() > 1024) { Fall is the time to plant garlic. It is typically thought of as a cool season crop, sensitive to high temperatures and dry soils. When completely dry, shake the flower stems in the bag. Both lettuce and celery seeds need light to germinate. Set each lettuce head about 6-12 inches apart. Buttercrunch is a popular bibb type loose head lettuce that has sweet, high yielding thick green leaves and a small, tight head. It keeps best at 32 degrees with 96% humidity. In our area of central Virginia it is October 10th-October 15th. Read more about the "Best Vegetables to Plant in the Fall." Miner’s lettuce is not fussy, and it will likely do great! Cutting every other plant at the ground will give remaining plants more space for growth. For that reason, we recommend you use this guide as a very good starting place, but don't interpret the dates as absolutely perfect for every location. Around September 15, take your cloves apart and plant the toes about 3 to 4 inches deep. The next important bit of information is how tolerant the various vegetables are to frost. For most other areas, spring and fall are the best times to grow greens. Okay, now here are the cold, hard numbers, along with specific plants: Most tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, for example, require around 100 days to harvest, therefore you'd want to transplant those into the ground around July 22. Lettuce is adaptable to many growing conditions, but likes it cool - around 60 F to 65 F. Generally, better results will be obtained by growing during cooler portions of the growing cycle. Use these convenient icons to share this page on various social media platforms: How accurate is all this? Slow-bolting or heat-resistant varieties are available and are recommended for extending the lettuce-growing season. It should take about seven to 10 days for the lettuce seeds to sprout. Locate plants where they will be partially shaded by taller nearby plants, latticework or other screen. Many varieties of lettuce can be harvested as microgreens, baby greens, leaves, or entire plant. 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