Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Lettuce seeds can be, depending on the variety, white, black, or yellowish brown.
Take special care during the final phase of seed ripening, as seeds can be knocked free by rain or the
entire plant could succumb to fungal disease in wet weather. Build a simple roof over flowering lettuce
or grow in containers indoors.
Use the tendency of lettuce plants to self-sow to your advantage by planting these seedlings in their
own bed for a late summer crop or by harvesting baby salad greens.
The first seeds are ready for plucking.
Overview of
Lactuca sativa
crops
COMMON NAME
BOTANICAL VARIETY
CENTERS OF CULTIVATION
romaine (cos)
var.
longifolia
Mediterranean
butterhead
var.
capitata nidus jaggeri
Europe, USA
iceberg (crisphead)
var.
capitata nidus tenerrima
Europe, USA
loose leaf
var.
crispa
Europe
celtus (asparagus lettuce)
var.
angustana
Asia
deer tongue
unsettled
Mediterranean, North Africa,
South America
oil types (cow lettuce)
unsettled
southern Egypt
HARVEST
Seeds are ready for harvest 12 to 24 days after flowering. Each seed ripens at its own pace.
Test by carefully rubbing seed capsules between your thumb and index fingers; seeds are ripe when the
capsule crumbles, and the seed easily falls out. If this does not happen and the capsule still feels
“doughy,” allow more time to ripen. The best seeds are those from flowers along the main stalk.