Lettuce

Introduction
Family : Compositae
Botanical Name : Lactuca sativa L.
Common Name : lettuce
Chromosome Number : 2n = 18
origin : Mediterranean region
Major lettuce producing districts : Panchthar, Kaski, Gorkha, Morang ,
Darchula etc.
Uses and Nutritive value
Most important leafy vegetable whose tender leaf and head are consumed
as salad.
• Rich source of fiber and cellulose
• Very low in calorie, helps in weight loss.
• Fresh leaves are excellent source of vit. A, vit. K and β-carotene.
• Lowers cholesterol level
• Antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory property.
• Protect neuronal cells, reduce the chance of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Helps with insomnia; induces sleep.
Botany
• Tap root system
• Outer leaves are green to dark green and inner leaves are light green to
whitish, inner leaves are better quality.
• Small flowers remain closely together, promotes self pollination.
 Varieties

• Green wave
• New red fire
• Green span
Cultivars
1. Head type (L. sativa var. capitata L.)
i) Crisp head : heads are hard and durable. Round large head up to 1 kg with
wrinkle leaves. Eg: Grate Lakes, Impariol-859 etc.
ii) Butter head type: small loose head with broad oily leaves. Leaves are loosely
folded. Eg: White Boston, Big Boston.
2. Leafy and bunching type (L. sativa var. crispa L.)
Non heading type. Eg: Chinese Yellow, Slobolt, Black seeded simpson etc.
3. Asparagus or stem type ( L. sativa var. asparaginia L.)
They don’t form head but are grown for their large fleshy stems which are
pilled and eaten. It is also called celery lettuce. Eg: celtuce.
4. Cos or Romaine type (L. sativa var. longifolia L.)
Plants are straight growing and produce a coarse leaves but have good eating
quality.
Climate
• Cool season crop, winter crop for terai and mid-hills and summer crop high-hills.
• Seed become dormant and fail to germinate at temperature above 25 o C and
promotes bolting, causing bitterness of leaf.
• Optimum temperature for the growth: 12-15o C, for germination :18-20oC
Soil
• Well drained, fertile, rich in organic matter is suitable.
• Sandy loam soil is best, sensitive to high acidity and optimum pH 5.5-6.6.
Time of sowing and Harvesting
Geographical regions sowing time Harvesting time
High hills( 5000-7000 feet) All year round 2-3 month after sowing
Mid hills(3000-5000 ft.) Sept - Feb Nov - May
Low hills( 1000-3000 ft.) Oct- Jan Dec- March
Terai (<1000 ft.) Nov - Jan Jan – March

Manure and Fertilizers

FYM/Compost : 15-20 tons/ha
NPK : 120:80:40 Kg/ha
Apply full dose of well rotten FYM/compost , P, K and ½ N at the time of
final land preparation. Remaining ½ dose of N is top dressed one month
after transplanting.
Seed Rate : 400-500 gm /ha
Raising of seedlings in nursery
• 3-4 times ploughing , digging , removal of weeds and crop stubbles to bring
the bed into fine tilth.
• Soil treatment by 40% formalin @200 lit per ropani of land, soil is covered
by polyethylene for 72 hours for effective treatment.
• Raised seed beds of 15-20cm of 1m width and length as per requirement.
Maintain seed bed to seed bed distance 30-40 cm.
• FYM 10 kg per sq m.
• Line sowing at 5 cm continuously.
• Sowing depth 1-2cm.
• Cover bed with straw and irrigate with watering can .
• Seedling are ready for transplanting at 4-6 weeks age.
Field Preparation and Transplanting
• 2-3 ploughing followed by planking to make good tilth.
• Flat beds make during winter/normal season and ridges for rainy season.
Spacing
Row to row distance : 30-45 cm
Plant to plant : 20-25 cm
Intercultural operations
• Irrigation
- followed in short interval until the seedlings are established.
- subsequent irrigation is given in the interval of 4-5 days in light soil and
8-10 days in heavy soil.
• Interculture
- 3-4 shallow hoeing and weeding is essential.
- Mulching during rainy season to prevent from soil erosion at root zone and to raise the
soil temperature during winter months.
Harvesting
• Leafy varieties become ready for transplanting within 50-60 DAT.
• Head type varieties are harvested when they attain good size and become solid
• Leaf should be harvested when leaves are fully developed.
Yield
Head type : 10-14 tons/ha
Leaf type : 20-30 ton/ha

Post harvest operation

It can be stored in trenches or cold storage at 10o C, 95-98 % relative humidity for 2-3
 Fig : butter head type
Fig : Crisp head type