LETTUCES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 45, 21 August 1941, Page 15

LETTUCES

Lettuces are constantly in demand during the summer, and to ensure a supply seed should be sown in small quantities at frequent intervals, a first lot being sown now. Until the ground warms up somewhat it might be best to sow in boxes under cover unless a very warm sheltered position is available for a seed bed. Even under most favourable circumstances the bed would be better raised a few inches to ensure that surplus water gets away freely. Lettuces do not succeed in all soils but the main reason for failure is ignorance as to their requirements. "The great secret of success is to have well-enriched soil, containing plenty of humus and plenty of nitrogenous manure. Good stable manure is ideal, but practically unobtainable in these days. Bonedust added to the ground and plenty of decayed garden refuse worked in will make a good medium for lettuces. A pinch of seed is usually enough to sow at a time, so that there are always young plants coming on. Too often a packet of seed is bought at the beginning of the season and the whole of it sown at one time. The result is far more plants than can be used. Lettuces should never be allowed to stop growing, and when being transplanted from the seed bed care should be taken that the tap-root is not broken, as this causes a severe check to the young plants. Plenty of moisture is required throughout growth—hence the need of plenty of humus which holds moisture —and once the plants are commencing to grow well, doses of nitrate of soda (2oz to the gallon of water) may be given once a fortnight. Seedlings should be pricked out 9 to 12 inches apart. In the warmer months it is perhaps better to sow where the plants are to grow and thin out to 9 inches or so in the rows, as in some soils lettuces do not transplant well, especially in dry weather.