Introduction

Lettuce is one of the popular vegetables used in preparing salad that is grown all over the world. Its crispy, green/crimson-red leaves are one of the incredible sources of essential nutrients that benefit health. lettuce belong to to the daisy family known as Asteraceae. It's a leafy vegetable that can be consumed raw.

Lettuce farming was first done by the ancient Egyptians who turned it from a weed whose seeds were used to produce oil, into a food plant grown for its succulent leaves and oil-rich seeds. Lettuce spread to the Greeks and Romans, the latter of whom gave it the name lactuca, from which the English lettuce is ultimately derived. By 50 AD, many types were described, and lettuce appeared often in medieval writings, including several herbals



Health Benefits of lettuce

Low Calorie Content and almost no fat.
Lettuce has only 12 calories for 1 shredded cup.
This is why it is so good for weight loss.

High in Fiber and Cellulose
Another reason it is good for weight loss.
This fiber also helps remove bile salts from the body. When the body replaces these salts it breaks down cholesterol to do so. This is why lettuce is also good for your heart!

Heart Healthy
Lettuce’s vitamin C and beta-carotene work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. This prevents the build up of plaque.

Omega-3 Fatty acids.
Romaine lettuce has a 2/1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. That’s a great ratio.
The fat content in lettuce is not significant UNLESS you eat a lot but we actually suggest you do.

Complete Protein
Romaine lettuce has 20 % of its calories in protein. Like all whole foods, much of this protein is complete but that amount can be increased by combining with balancing proteins.



Varieties Of Lettuce

These varieties are commonly used in cultivating lettuce:

Romaine or cos lettuce varieties form an upright, elongated head.
Loose-leaf or leaf types have leaves of various shapes loosely arranged around the stem.
Crisphead lettuces form a dense, compact head surrounded by a few looser leaves.
Butterhead (also commonly called Bibb, Boston or Buttercrunch) varieties form very loose heads of tender, sweetly flavored leaves.
Stem lettuce varieties have elongated leaves with a very bitter flavor and are commonly used in Chinese cuisine.


Climatic Requirement For Lettuce Farming

Lettuce does well in cool environment. Temperatures of between 45° F and 65° F are ideal for cultivating lettuce.Lettuce generally do not strive very well in tropic climates,although The leafy types mature quickly and are more suited for warm climates.Lettuce can be grown year round with proper varieties.

Soil Requirements For Lettuce Farming

Lettuce can grow well in a variety of soils, but the best soil to grow lettuce is friable loamy soil with high water retention and good drainage.

The best soil pH for lettuce is between 5.5-6.5. It is important you go for soil test before planting if you are growing in commercial quantity.



PLANTING

Land Preparation

You have prepare the land to get a fine tilt by ploughing about 3-4 times. Ensure you add organic matter after soil test.

Propagation

Lettuce is planted using the seeds.



You can spread the seed very thinly along a row and cover lightly with soil, or sprinkle it over a bed and rake it in. Lettuce seed is very fine and not easy to spread evenly, therefore both methods will likely require you to thin your seedlings later.

Another way you can propagate lettuce is through cutting

Here cuttings from old harvests may be used in the beds of new plantings. Cutting will also promote new shoots to develop and the heads to grow at a faster rate





Seed Rate And Planting Distance

Sow lettuce seeds thinly in rows 1 foot apart, plant seeds ½ inch deep.; for leaf types, thin plants to 2-3 inches apart, then thin again by pulling every other plant when half grown. This will encourage thickly developed plants.

For head, Bibb, and cos types, space rows 18 inches apart, plants 8-10 inches apart. Closer spacing results in smaller heads, which may be preferable for small families. A hectare of land requires about 2-3kg of lettuce seeds for planting. The optimum soil temperature for lettuce is about 20°-22°C



Irrigation in lettuce farming

Uniform moisture is necessary for proper growth of lettuce, so you have to irrigate your farm once in every 4-5 days. Make sure you drain out excess water especially when there is heavy rain.



Manuring And Fertilizing A Lettuce farm

Lettuce responds very well to manure and fertilizer, it is necessary to do this application on time. For better yield you should apply about 60-65kg each of potash and phosphorus and about 8-10 tonnes of farm yard manure per hectare.

Management practices In Lettuce Farming

To encourage crop growth and yield you need to carry out hoeing and weeding practices in your farm.

Mulching is an excellent practice and one that will enable your lettuce to thrive. It helps the soil retain moisture so that less water is lost through evaporation. It also discourages weed growth.



Diseases And Insects

Lettuce is attacked by aphids, armyworms, imported cabbage worm, and loopers.

Damping-off is a serious disease of young seedlings, whereas mildews and sclerotinia are serious on the more mature plants.

Both insects and diseases can be controlled if the correct chemicals are properly applied. Consult your Cooperative Extension agent regarding pest build-up, proper diagnosis, and control.

Harvesting Of Lettuce

Lettuce farming takes about two months to mature depending on the variety, however the first harvesting should be done at about 40- 60 days.Before maturity, you can harvest leaf lettuce by simply removing outer leaves so that the center leaves can continue to grow. Butterhead or romaine types can be harvested by removing the outer leaves, digging up the whole plant or cutting the plant about an inch above the soil surface. A second harvest is often possible this way.

Marketing Of Lettuce

Due to the short shelf life of lettuce it is important that you transport it immediately to your customers immediately after harvest.Before embarking on lettuce farming you need to get buyers for your lettuce to avoid spoiling of the vegetable after harvest due its short shelf life.

Source :http://theprofarmer.com/the-complete-guide-to-lettuce-farming/

With that temperature range, does it mean we cannot grow lettuce in Nigeria?

petsarena:
Introduction

Lettuce is one of the popular vegetables used in preparing salad that is grown all over the world. Its crispy, green/crimson-red leaves are one of the incredible sources of essential nutrients that benefit health. lettuce belong to to the daisy family known as Asteraceae. It's a leafy vegetable that can be consumed raw.

Lettuce farming was first done by the ancient Egyptians who turned it from a weed whose seeds were used to produce oil, into a food plant grown for its succulent leaves and oil-rich seeds. Lettuce spread to the Greeks and Romans, the latter of whom gave it the name lactuca, from which the English lettuce is ultimately derived. By 50 AD, many types were described, and lettuce appeared often in medieval writings, including several herbals



Health Benefits of lettuce

Low Calorie Content and almost no fat.
Lettuce has only 12 calories for 1 shredded cup.
This is why it is so good for weight loss.

High in Fiber and Cellulose
Another reason it is good for weight loss.
This fiber also helps remove bile salts from the body. When the body replaces these salts it breaks down cholesterol to do so. This is why lettuce is also good for your heart!

Heart Healthy
Lettuce’s vitamin C and beta-carotene work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. This prevents the build up of plaque.

Omega-3 Fatty acids.
Romaine lettuce has a 2/1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. That’s a great ratio.
The fat content in lettuce is not significant UNLESS you eat a lot but we actually suggest you do.

Complete Protein
Romaine lettuce has 20 % of its calories in protein. Like all whole foods, much of this protein is complete but that amount can be increased by combining with balancing proteins.



Varieties Of Lettuce

These varieties are commonly used in cultivating lettuce:

Romaine or cos lettuce varieties form an upright, elongated head.
Loose-leaf or leaf types have leaves of various shapes loosely arranged around the stem.
Crisphead lettuces form a dense, compact head surrounded by a few looser leaves.
Butterhead (also commonly called Bibb, Boston or Buttercrunch) varieties form very loose heads of tender, sweetly flavored leaves.
Stem lettuce varieties have elongated leaves with a very bitter flavor and are commonly used in Chinese cuisine.


Climatic Requirement For Lettuce Farming

Lettuce does well in cool environment. Temperatures of between 45° F and 65° F are ideal for cultivating lettuce.Lettuce generally do not strive very well in tropic climates,although The leafy types mature quickly and are more suited for warm climates.Lettuce can be grown year round with proper varieties.

Soil Requirements For Lettuce Farming

Lettuce can grow well in a variety of soils, but the best soil to grow lettuce is friable loamy soil with high water retention and good drainage.

The best soil pH for lettuce is between 5.5-6.5. It is important you go for soil test before planting if you are growing in commercial quantity.



PLANTING

Land Preparation

You have prepare the land to get a fine tilt by ploughing about 3-4 times. Ensure you add organic matter after soil test.

Propagation

Lettuce is planted using the seeds.



You can spread the seed very thinly along a row and cover lightly with soil, or sprinkle it over a bed and rake it in. Lettuce seed is very fine and not easy to spread evenly, therefore both methods will likely require you to thin your seedlings later.

Another way you can propagate lettuce is through cutting

Here cuttings from old harvests may be used in the beds of new plantings. Cutting will also promote new shoots to develop and the heads to grow at a faster rate





Seed Rate And Planting Distance

Sow lettuce seeds thinly in rows 1 foot apart, plant seeds ½ inch deep.; for leaf types, thin plants to 2-3 inches apart, then thin again by pulling every other plant when half grown. This will encourage thickly developed plants.

For head, Bibb, and cos types, space rows 18 inches apart, plants 8-10 inches apart. Closer spacing results in smaller heads, which may be preferable for small families. A hectare of land requires about 2-3kg of lettuce seeds for planting. The optimum soil temperature for lettuce is about 20°-22°C



Irrigation in lettuce farming

Uniform moisture is necessary for proper growth of lettuce, so you have to irrigate your farm once in every 4-5 days. Make sure you drain out excess water especially when there is heavy rain.



Manuring And Fertilizing A Lettuce farm

Lettuce responds very well to manure and fertilizer, it is necessary to do this application on time. For better yield you should apply about 60-65kg each of potash and phosphorus and about 8-10 tonnes of farm yard manure per hectare.

Management practices In Lettuce Farming

To encourage crop growth and yield you need to carry out hoeing and weeding practices in your farm.

Mulching is an excellent practice and one that will enable your lettuce to thrive. It helps the soil retain moisture so that less water is lost through evaporation. It also discourages weed growth.



Diseases And Insects

Lettuce is attacked by aphids, armyworms, imported cabbage worm, and loopers.

Damping-off is a serious disease of young seedlings, whereas mildews and sclerotinia are serious on the more mature plants.

Both insects and diseases can be controlled if the correct chemicals are properly applied. Consult your Cooperative Extension agent regarding pest build-up, proper diagnosis, and control.

Harvesting Of Lettuce

Lettuce farming takes about two months to mature depending on the variety, however the first harvesting should be done at about 40- 60 days.Before maturity, you can harvest leaf lettuce by simply removing outer leaves so that the center leaves can continue to grow. Butterhead or romaine types can be harvested by removing the outer leaves, digging up the whole plant or cutting the plant about an inch above the soil surface. A second harvest is often possible this way.

Marketing Of Lettuce

Due to the short shelf life of lettuce it is important that you transport it immediately to your customers immediately after harvest.Before embarking on lettuce farming you need to get buyers for your lettuce to avoid spoiling of the vegetable after harvest due its short shelf life.

Source :http://theprofarmer.com/the-complete-guide-to-lettuce-farming/

Great!

Please, I need contacts of Lettuces farmers in Lagos and Ogun State for purchase and supply.
Thanks

SeyiOmoOba:
Great!

Please, I need contacts of Lettuces farmers in Lagos and Ogun State for purchase and supply.
Thanks

Pls can I have ur contact, Here's mine
08164807144 u can call or chat me on WhatsApp

petsarena:
Introduction

Lettuce is one of the popular vegetables used in preparing salad that is grown all over the world. Its crispy, green/crimson-red leaves are one of the incredible sources of essential nutrients that benefit health. lettuce belong to to the daisy family known as Asteraceae. It's a leafy vegetable that can be consumed raw.

Lettuce farming was first done by the ancient Egyptians who turned it from a weed whose seeds were used to produce oil, into a food plant grown for its succulent leaves and oil-rich seeds. Lettuce spread to the Greeks and Romans, the latter of whom gave it the name lactuca, from which the English lettuce is ultimately derived. By 50 AD, many types were described, and lettuce appeared often in medieval writings, including several herbals



Health Benefits of lettuce

Low Calorie Content and almost no fat.
Lettuce has only 12 calories for 1 shredded cup.
This is why it is so good for weight loss.

High in Fiber and Cellulose
Another reason it is good for weight loss.
This fiber also helps remove bile salts from the body. When the body replaces these salts it breaks down cholesterol to do so. This is why lettuce is also good for your heart!

Heart Healthy
Lettuce’s vitamin C and beta-carotene work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. This prevents the build up of plaque.

Omega-3 Fatty acids.
Romaine lettuce has a 2/1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. That’s a great ratio.
The fat content in lettuce is not significant UNLESS you eat a lot but we actually suggest you do.

Complete Protein
Romaine lettuce has 20 % of its calories in protein. Like all whole foods, much of this protein is complete but that amount can be increased by combining with balancing proteins.



Varieties Of Lettuce

These varieties are commonly used in cultivating lettuce:

Romaine or cos lettuce varieties form an upright, elongated head.
Loose-leaf or leaf types have leaves of various shapes loosely arranged around the stem.
Crisphead lettuces form a dense, compact head surrounded by a few looser leaves.
Butterhead (also commonly called Bibb, Boston or Buttercrunch) varieties form very loose heads of tender, sweetly flavored leaves.
Stem lettuce varieties have elongated leaves with a very bitter flavor and are commonly used in Chinese cuisine.


Climatic Requirement For Lettuce Farming

Lettuce does well in cool environment. Temperatures of between 45° F and 65° F are ideal for cultivating lettuce.Lettuce generally do not strive very well in tropic climates,although The leafy types mature quickly and are more suited for warm climates.Lettuce can be grown year round with proper varieties.

Soil Requirements For Lettuce Farming

Lettuce can grow well in a variety of soils, but the best soil to grow lettuce is friable loamy soil with high water retention and good drainage.

The best soil pH for lettuce is between 5.5-6.5. It is important you go for soil test before planting if you are growing in commercial quantity.



PLANTING

Land Preparation

You have prepare the land to get a fine tilt by ploughing about 3-4 times. Ensure you add organic matter after soil test.

Propagation

Lettuce is planted using the seeds.



You can spread the seed very thinly along a row and cover lightly with soil, or sprinkle it over a bed and rake it in. Lettuce seed is very fine and not easy to spread evenly, therefore both methods will likely require you to thin your seedlings later.

Another way you can propagate lettuce is through cutting

Here cuttings from old harvests may be used in the beds of new plantings. Cutting will also promote new shoots to develop and the heads to grow at a faster rate





Seed Rate And Planting Distance

Sow lettuce seeds thinly in rows 1 foot apart, plant seeds ½ inch deep.; for leaf types, thin plants to 2-3 inches apart, then thin again by pulling every other plant when half grown. This will encourage thickly developed plants.

For head, Bibb, and cos types, space rows 18 inches apart, plants 8-10 inches apart. Closer spacing results in smaller heads, which may be preferable for small families. A hectare of land requires about 2-3kg of lettuce seeds for planting. The optimum soil temperature for lettuce is about 20°-22°C



Irrigation in lettuce farming

Uniform moisture is necessary for proper growth of lettuce, so you have to irrigate your farm once in every 4-5 days. Make sure you drain out excess water especially when there is heavy rain.



Manuring And Fertilizing A Lettuce farm

Lettuce responds very well to manure and fertilizer, it is necessary to do this application on time. For better yield you should apply about 60-65kg each of potash and phosphorus and about 8-10 tonnes of farm yard manure per hectare.

Management practices In Lettuce Farming

To encourage crop growth and yield you need to carry out hoeing and weeding practices in your farm.

Mulching is an excellent practice and one that will enable your lettuce to thrive. It helps the soil retain moisture so that less water is lost through evaporation. It also discourages weed growth.



Diseases And Insects

Lettuce is attacked by aphids, armyworms, imported cabbage worm, and loopers.

Damping-off is a serious disease of young seedlings, whereas mildews and sclerotinia are serious on the more mature plants.

Both insects and diseases can be controlled if the correct chemicals are properly applied. Consult your Cooperative Extension agent regarding pest build-up, proper diagnosis, and control.

Harvesting Of Lettuce

Lettuce farming takes about two months to mature depending on the variety, however the first harvesting should be done at about 40- 60 days.Before maturity, you can harvest leaf lettuce by simply removing outer leaves so that the center leaves can continue to grow. Butterhead or romaine types can be harvested by removing the outer leaves, digging up the whole plant or cutting the plant about an inch above the soil surface. A second harvest is often possible this way.

Marketing Of Lettuce

Due to the short shelf life of lettuce it is important that you transport it immediately to your customers immediately after harvest.Before embarking on lettuce farming you need to get buyers for your lettuce to avoid spoiling of the vegetable after harvest due its short shelf life.

Source :http://theprofarmer.com/the-complete-guide-to-lettuce-farming/

Pls can I have ur contact, I would like to go into lettuce farming.
Thanks

SeyiOmoOba:
Great!

Please, I need contacts of Lettuces farmers in Lagos and Ogun State for purchase and supply.
Thanks

I'm a lettuce farmer but based in ibadan 0+8+1+4+7+3+8+2+7+8+0

nice one op but the person that wrote the article made a mistake, in the temperature, lettuce can grow anywhere in Nigeria, just get the watering right, that was how they said we could grow strawberries raspberry and grapes in Nigeria..... Lie lie oyibo.....


Anyways check out my page @cheapmarketdeal on Instagram Google & Facebook to learn how I grow all this things in Nigeria, including purple lettuce and Kale