Salad contains in its composition a huge amount of nutrients. Therefore, many lovers of this green want to grow it not only at their summer cottage, but also at home. Is it possible to grow lettuce from seeds on a windowsill at home? This will be discussed further.
Table of contents
Is it possible to grow leaf lettuce on the windowsill
Salad is quite possible to grow at home. Both in winter and in summer. But this plant at home requires a lot of attention.
For his growth need a lot of sunlight. On short winter days, additional lighting is required. If there is not enough light, it starts blooming early. Does not tolerate drought, heat. At the same time the leaves become bitter. Beginners should not take on the cultivation in the flat head. They are very capricious.
The best varieties of lettuce for growing at home
The most suitable grade for an apartment is considered Batavia. In grocery stores most often sell it.
It grows even without additional illumination. It can withstand short-term drought, high air temperatures.
The most famous varieties for cultivation on the windowsill:
- Lollo rossa
- Emerald Lace
- New Year
- Lollo bionda
- Vitamin
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- Lollo rossa
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- Emerald Lace
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- New Year
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- Lollo bionda
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- Vitamin
Lolla Rossa is distinguished by a brown head, curly light green leaves. Considered the most vitamin. It has a delicate flavor.
Lolla Bionda - the most beautiful. Leaves are wavy. Yellow green. Taste is pleasant, bitterish with nut smack.
The apartment is also grown watercress. This is a moisture-loving plant. Top grades for windowsill:
- curly;
- pepper;
- broadleaf;
- ordinary.
The choice of capacity for planting and soil preparation
The roots of lettuce do not lie deep in the soil. Large containers for its growth are not needed. It is better to choose a plastic pot. Capacity should be 1–2 liter capacity. Depth - 10 - 35 cm. Depending on the variety. At the bottom of the tank should be holes.
Soil can be purchased at the store or use garden land. Sour soil for planting is not suitable. Better option - a mixture of turf land, humus, sand. Another option - garden soil, coconut fiber, biohumus. The ratio of the last two - 2: 1.
When using garden soil, the soil should be disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The soil is filled in a pot, not cutting to the edges 2.5 - 3 cm.
Some varieties can grow without soil. One of them is watercress.For cultivation use such improvised materials as sponge, cotton wool, paper.
Sowing seeds
- Seeds before sowing are disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate. Time - 2-3 hours.
- At the bottom of the pot put a drainage layer.
- Drainage covered with earth. Watered.
- Make a groove. Depth - 5 mm. Row spacing - 10 cm.
- Seeds are placed in the groove. Fall asleep with a small amount of earth. Lightly compacted.
- Cover the capacity of the package - create a greenhouse effect.
- Put in a dark place.
- When the first germs appear, the package is removed. Transferred to the windowsill.
The first shoots can be seen after 4 - 5 days. It is necessary to protect it from direct sunlight. In bright sunny days it is necessary to shade it - the leaves can burn.
Culture needs thinning. This is done 2 times:
- After 1 week, the first shoots will appear; It is necessary to leave a distance between them of 1-2 cm.
- When 2 true leaves are formed; The distance is 4–5 cm.
If the salad grows thick, a good harvest will not be possible.
Watering
Watering should be abundant. With insufficient soil moisture arrows begin to form earlier than usual. Watered with settled water 1 time in 1 - 2 days.
If the container is on the south side - more often. In winter - less. It is impossible to moisten the soil too much - roots, lower leaves will begin to rot. Indoor air should be humidified. The leaves are sprayed with water from a spray bottle.
Top dressing
Feed up 1 time in 1.5–2 weeks. Suitable fertilizers for indoor plants. This is a fast-growing culture. If fertile soil was chosen for planting, it grows well without them.
You can not make a large amount of nitrogen fertilizer - lettuce is able to accumulate nitrates. If you use a feed based on potassium iodide, you can get a plant with a large amount of iodine in the composition.
Lighting
Photophilous plant In winter, in short autumn - spring days, you need to use additional lighting - fluorescent lamps. Include them for 2 - 5 hours. Suspend at a height of 50 - 60 cm above the plant.
A total of light day should last 12–14 hours. It is impossible to highlight during the day. Greens should rest.
Loosening
Salad has very fragile, superficial roots. Loosen the land under the seedlings can't.
Harvesting
Greens are growing rapidly. It can be collected within a few weeks. Uprooted or ripped off at the leaves. After 3 to 5 weeks, arrows are formed. The plant is removed. Other seeds are sown in its place.
Experienced gardeners plant lettuce once in 10 days. From one plant receive 40-50 grams of green. But it all depends on the variety.
Leaf lettuce can be grown in open ground or at home. But planting it in the apartment, you need to remember that it requires daily care.
- This is a moisture-loving plant. The soil should always be slightly wet. But excessive moisture can kill him.
- The best place is a windowsill on the south, southeast side. Without enough light at home it is impossible to grow it.
Growing fast. Does not take much space. But you need to choose the right grade for the pot.