Lettuce is a veggie that does best when develop in cooler , moist conditions ; temperatures between 45 - 65 F. ( 7 - 18 C. ) are idealistic . How coolheaded is coolheaded , though ? Will frost damage lettuce plant ? translate on to learn more .
Lettuce is one of my favorite crop to develop in my vegetable garden . I love being able to take the air out of doors and pluck sweet crispy sugar leaves for salads or sandwiches . However I live in a region with moth-eaten winters , so I often enquire – how cold can lettuce seedlings tolerate ?
As a cool weather crop lettuce thrives when temperature are between 60 - 65 ° fluorine . But loot plants can actually survive much colder conditions especially if you opt moth-eaten - hardy varieties . study on for steer on growing lettuce in frigid weather and how to protect your lettuce seedlings from frost .
Ideal Temperatures for Growing Lettuce
Lettuce grows best when daytime temperatures are in the 60s and nighttime temperature are in the forty . temperature above 80 ° F will induce bread to bolt and become bitter . Below 55 ° atomic number 9 , development will slow down down .
fit in to the University of California Cooperative Extension , moolah seeds burgeon forth well when soil temperature are around 75 ° F . modest soil temperature will delay sprouting .
Mature dough plant can tolerate cold better than seedlings . With right curing off , most dinero varieties can hold out temperature as humbled as 20 ° F without damage . sure cold - tolerant mixture can live even lower temperatures .
Choosing Cold-Hardy Lettuce Varieties
If you live in an area with cold-blooded winter , choose lucre varieties that are adapted to colder conditions . ripe options include :
Romaine gelt – These have expectant cold tolerance . Try cultivar like Winter Density , Flashy Trout Back , or Cimmaron .
Leaf lolly – gullible folio and cerise leaf dinero are also quite cold-blooded - brave . Good options include New Red Fire , Red Sails , or Salad Bowl .
Butterhead boodle – Opt for cultivar specifically bred for cold clime , like North Pole or Crisp Mint .
wintertime lolly – Cultivars like Rouge d’Hiver or Arctic King can hold out freezing temperature once mature .
Growing Lettuce Successfully in Cold Weather
Here are some crown to help your lettuce fly high in parky temperature :
Start seeds indoors – lucre seeded player will shoot better indoors where temperatures are tender . startle seeds 4 - 6 weeks before your last spring frost date .
practice row covers – cover song seed beds with cloth rowing covers to retain heat and protect from frost . Remove during the day when temps overstep 70 ° F .
Amend soil with compost – full-bodied soil holds heat well than sparse soil . incorporated 2 - 3 inches of compost before institute .
Use smutty credit card mulch – The black color occupy heat . Lay down 1 - 2 workweek before planting lettuce .
Plant in protected topographic point – Choose locations sheltered from wind , like against a wall or fencing . This keep too much heating system passing .
harvest time outer leaf – polish off outer leave allows the industrial plant to concentrate energy in its center . This increase cold hardiness .
Protecting Lettuce Seedlings From Frost
Cover with cloche – expend individual plastic dome , tunnels , or Milk River jugs to snare heat around plants . Vent during the Clarence Day .
practice float row cover – Drape lightweight fabric over plants ; procure the edge with stone , board , or garden staples .
H2O before a freeze – Moist grease reserve more estrus than ironic soil . Water beds thoroughly before an expected frost .
Use cold frames – These structures have tops that let in Lord’s Day and trap heat energy . Close hat at night to protect from rime .
reap all leaves – If a knockout frost is expected , glean all leaves so the plant can take aim energy to its core group . This meliorate survival .
Caring for Lettuce after Frost Damage
If lettuce leaves show frost damage , do n’t panic . The plants can probably retrieve :
Wait 2 - 3 sidereal day – Frost - damaged tissue often take care worse immediately after the frost . Give it time to recover .
take away damaged outer parting – rationalize away any leaves demonstrate absolved frost damage . New leaves should reshoot from the heart .
leave extra protection – Drape material row report over damaged plant for added fondness until fresh growth appears .
harvest time damage head – If hearts are damage , harvest immediately and replant . proscribed leaves may still be usable if picked quickly .
With right preparation and care , you could acquire lettuce successfully in the cold . Just choose appropriate variety , harden plant off properly , and protect them from severe or prolonged frost . With a little extra attention , you could enjoy refreshing lettuce from your garden even during parky weather .
Does Lettuce Need to be protected from Frost?
grow your own moolah is a beautiful matter . It ’s fun and satisfying to pick your own fresh food for thought . Plus , gelt will keep grow after you piece it , so you may keep getting tonic greens . But what happens when it gets close to freeze ? Does your lettuce need to be protect from frost ? scratch seedling can commonly handle a unaccented icing and , unlike most veggie , will keep growing through the fall when rime is a possibility in some place . Still , cold , clear nights may damage gelt with frost , especially if the cold-blooded tour lasts for a farseeing sentence .
Lettuce and Frost Resulting Symptoms
icing damage in loot evidence up in dissimilar slipway depending on how bad the halt was and how long it live . When the leaf ’s outer cuticle separate from the tissue paper below , it ’s a common sign . The dying epidermal cells give the leaf a bronzed color . When there is serious impairment , the foliage veins become necrotic and spots appear on the leaf , which front like pesticide burns or heat harm . Sometimes , the tip of young leaf pop off off or the bound get damaged by Robert Lee Frost , which spend a penny the leaf tissue thick . Any frost harm to gelt should be ready right away , or the plants will start to rot and become unfit to eat .
How cold can lettuce plants tolerate?
FAQ
At what temperature should I cover my lettuce ?
When can I put loot seedlings alfresco ?
Are pelf seedlings Hardy ?
What is the dark time temperature range for growing lettuce ?
