This article will talk about why Romaine lettuce should be grown on your own lot. Roman salad is also called Roman salad. It is an annual plant, the leaves of which are collected in a kind of head. Romain is considered one of the oldest and most popular in the world, it is added to the well-known "Caesar" salad. We will talk about the beneficial properties of the plant and how to grow lettuce in his summer cottage. You will learn about all the intricacies of pre-sowing preparation and growing seedlings.
What is useful: description and biological features of romen salad
Romaine lettuce not only complements salads and various sandwiches, but also benefits the body. Start with the calorie and nutritional value of the plant.
Caloric content of the plant is only 17 kcal per 100 g of product. This product is low in calories, even in relation to other vegetables, so it can be used during the diet, making a variety of salads.
Now about the nutritional value:
- proteins - 1.8 g;
- fat - 1.1 g;
- carbohydrates - 2.7 g
The product has a sufficient amount of protein and carbohydrates, which are more than beneficial for our body. If we compare salad with foods that are rich in protein, then we get interesting information: the amount of protein per 1 kg of lettuce is equal to the amount of protein per 100 g of cottage cheese, while the amount of fat is several times less than that of animal products. Comparing the amount of carbohydrates, we can say the following: 1 kg of lettuce contains more carbohydrates than 100 g of soybeans.Let us turn to the vitamins and microelements that are part of the salad:
- vitamin A;
- vitamin E;
- B vitamins (B1, B2, B5, B6);
- vitamin PP;
- vitamin N.
Minerals:
- selenium;
- magnesium;
- phosphorus;
- calcium;
- zinc;
- manganese;
- sodium;
- iron.
This composition led to the use of salad, not only in cooking, but also in medicine. Romain normalizes the cardiovascular system, has a positive effect on hemoglobin levels in the blood, normalizes blood pressure and reduces the deposition of harmful salts.The plant is added to various dishes in which it goes well with garlic sauce and herbs. Romain salad is very juicy, has a delicate nutty taste of leaves, which does not give a bitter aftertaste and does not interrupt the overall flavor composition of the dish.
Important! Before use, the salad should be thoroughly washed to remove all grains of sand and other small debris.Thus, the salad is useful not only during fasting and diet, but also as a source of vitamins and trace elements that help the body to function properly.
Site selection: soil preparation
Having discussed the beneficial properties of romaine lettuce, let's talk about planting and caring for a plant in the open field.
Configured to land a salad on the site, you need to remember about the correct sequence of actions and preparatory stages. Before sowing Roman lettuce, you need to select a suitable site and prepare the ground for the seeds.
Many gardeners are now thinking about why the salad should be allocated a "royal" place on the site, if it has less real value than cucumbers or tomatoes, which give truly universal fruits. 
The fact is that the vitamins and microelements described in the first section do not take the plant from the air, so if you sow lettuce on low-fertile soils, you will get something like ordinary grass (to taste) and a very poor composition that does not benefit the body.
That is why Romain should be sown in a sunny place. The soil must be rich in minerals and have low acidity (the problem is solved by embedding lime in the soil). The best precursors of lettuce are tilled crops or early grains. Also, the salad requires a sufficient amount of moisture, but its stagnation quickly leads to the death of the plant. Therefore, if heavy clay soils are located on the site, we are doing drainage. Take care and that the place was protected from strong winds and drafts.
Before sowing seeds in the ground should be embedded humus at the rate of 2-3 kg per 1 square. m. This fertilizer will give a good increase in the green mass of lettuce and accelerate its growth.
Important! Romaine lettuce is very sensitive to the excessive content of potassium and chlorine in the soil, which is why the plant acquires an atypical color, grows poorly and starts to hurt.
Presowing seed preparation
Seeds of lettuce for planting are purchased in special stores where the required storage temperature and air humidity are observed. Before sowing directly into open ground, seeds can be bubbled or coated.
Sparging seeds. The day before sowing, lettuce seeds are immersed in the necessary capacity (depending on the number of seeds). The container is filled to 2/3 with a solution of trace elements with a temperature of 20 ° C. Then the hose from the compressor is immersed in it (an aquarium oxygen blower will do), and the air supply is turned on. This procedure should be carried out about 12-16 hours. 
Important! If the seeds started to spit up - they stop bubbling. After the procedure, the seeds need to be dried.Drazhirovanie. Seeds are soaked in a solution of mullein (per 1 part of mullein 10 parts of water). After that, the seed is placed in a glass jar. In it you need to add a mixture for drazhirovaniya. The mixture is prepared as follows: for the preparation of 1 kg take 600 g of peat, 300 g of humus and 100 g of dry mullein. You can also add 15 g of bulk superphosphate to the mixture. The resulting mix is added to the jar with seeds in small frequent portions and the jar is shaken gently. When the seeds swell, they are taken out and dried. Before sowing, you need to moisten slightly to sprout quickly.
During sowing, it is recommended to mix seeds with any weighting agent (the same sand) in order to save seed material and facilitate further weeding and culling of plants.
Sowing seeds of romaine lettuce in open ground
You've learned about how a romaine salad looks, how useful it is, now it's worth talking about sowing seeds in open ground. It is important to understand that the instructions described below are not suitable for sowing seeds under film or on seedlings, since the timing and methods of planting are different.
Seed out need to be in early spring after the onset of zero temperature (with possible slight frosts at night). The distance between individual plants and rows when sowing lettuce romen varies depending on the variety. If the lettuce forms a small and low head of cabbage, then the distance between the rows can be reduced to 45 cm (while the landing pattern is 45 x 20 cm), otherwise the scheme is 70 x 20 cm.
It is worth saying that, depending on the area of supply, the amount of harvest may vary. Ideally, one plant should be allocated about 900 square meters. see It should be understood that if the salad is cramped, even the most optimal parameters and extremely nutritious soil will not give the desired result.
The sowing depth does not depend on the variety and is 1.5-2 cm, the diameter of the funnel is 5 mm. It is easiest to make the pits with a screwdriver with an identical diameter in order to create the same conditions for the seeds.
Sow the seeds need in the prepared soil. The soil should be loose, without garbage and lumps.
Did you know? Juicy lettuce works refreshingly due to the content of a small amount of bitter substances and citric acid.
Care and cultivation of romen lettuce cultivation
After sowing the seeds, it is necessary to work on the fact that weak young plants will quickly grow and have time to gain the necessary mass before the harvest. Consider the subtleties of care for romaine lettuce.
Watering, weeding and loosening the soil
At the initial stage, it is enough to loosen the soil, water it and clean it from weeds. During the growing season you need to spend at least 3-4 loosening between the rows. In addition, for the season you need to carry out 4 weeding, so that the roots of lettuce receive enough oxygen.
Watering is carried out depending on the weather and air temperature. The soil should be wet, pour Romain or bring to the soil can not be dried. It is recommended to carry out watering along furrows or with the help of a spray gun, when the plants have only hatching and have a very weak above-ground part (until the appearance of 5-6 sheets).
Important! On 1 square. m planting need to pour at least 15 liters of water with each irrigation, but this number corresponds to the soil with good drainage properties.The maximum amount of moisture required by the plant for 7-10 days before harvest (for food purposes). Watering contributes to a significant increase in the size of the head.
Thinning salad
It is necessary to thin out landing in 15 days after shoots (manually). Depending on the time of ripening, the distance that should be left between the plants during thinning varies. If the salad is early ripe - leave 15 cm, mid-season and late - 25-30 cm.
Important! The quality of thinning directly depends on the amount of the crop. Also required culling sick and weak plants.
Fertilization
In the process of growing complex mineral fertilizers are buried in the ground. However, it should be understood that romaine lettuce can accumulate in itself nitrates in large quantities, so there should be a minimum amount of nitrogen fertilizers. If before sowing a sufficient amount of humus or compost was introduced into the soil, then their further introduction is not necessary. 
Did you know? As the legends say, it is from Sa-lat Romaine from the Greek island of K Kos in the Aegean Sea, the homeland of Hippocrates. The ancient Romans called this salad Cappadocian lettuce "Cappadocian" and ate it stewed.
How to deal with possible diseases and pests
The problems that you will encounter, relate not only to compliance with the rules of watering and weeding. Romaine lettuce can affect various pests and diseases, which quickly spread to the entire planting and significantly reduce the quality and quantity of mature products.
Important! Most often, diseases and pests affect those plants that are left for full maturation to get seeds.
- Downy mildew. The disease causes the fungus Bremia lactucae Regel. The disease most often appears in the second period of vegetation. It affects the entire aerial part of the plant, including seeds. It can be diagnosed by the following features: irregular spots with a sign of chlorosis on the leaves, brown spots, small angular spots. The disease is treated with fungicides (Planriz, Fitosporin-M, Glyocladin) or with a solution of sulfur (50 g per 10 liters of water).
Gray rot. Another fungal disease that is caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea Pers. The whole green part is affected. The greatest damage is caused by the fungus during the harvest or ripening of seeds. Symptoms: brown necrotic spots; in conditions of high humidity, the affected areas are covered with a gray bloom. It is necessary to fight the disease with the help of the same fungicides ("Topaz", "Kuproskat").
Gray rot. Another fungal disease that is caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea Pers. The whole green part is affected. The greatest damage is caused by the fungus during the harvest or ripening of seeds. Symptoms: brown necrotic spots; in conditions of high humidity, the affected areas are covered with a gray bloom. It is necessary to fight the disease with the help of the same fungicides ("Topaz", "Kuproskat").Important! Gray rot parasitizes on almost all vegetable and fruit crops, as well as on weeds, so it must be removed very quickly and efficiently, otherwise relapse will not be avoided.
- White rot. Caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Like powdery mildew, the disease affects the entire above-ground portion. It can be diagnosed by light watery stains that have no smell. You can treat any fungicide, but it is worth remembering that then the salad will be far from environmentally friendly. Therefore, it is better to either cut off the affected areas, or to coat them with a mixture of chalk and potassium permanganate.
Septoria. Another fungal disease affecting precisely those plants that are planted in open ground (the peak falls on the second half of the growing season). It is possible to detect the disease by spots of irregular angular shape with black dots. To get rid of septoria, you need to remove the affected areas from the plant and treat the salad with copper-containing preparations or fungicides.
Septoria. Another fungal disease affecting precisely those plants that are planted in open ground (the peak falls on the second half of the growing season). It is possible to detect the disease by spots of irregular angular shape with black dots. To get rid of septoria, you need to remove the affected areas from the plant and treat the salad with copper-containing preparations or fungicides.- Regional necrosis. Physiological disease that is not related to the activity of harmful organisms. Symptoms of necrosis: the dying off of the edge of the leaf plate and the browning of tissues. The causes of the disease lie in the wrong care or sudden changes in temperature. In order to prevent the deterioration of the green part of the lettuce, you need to bring the temperature to normal, increase the humidity of the air or soil.
- Lettuce fly. A small midge, which has a length of 0.8 cm, is painted in ashen color. The insect causes serious damage to lettuce plantings, from which it is planned to collect seeds (the larvae destroy the seed material at the time of ripening). So that the fly does not cause financial losses, the salad is treated with Phosphamide.
Important! Cabbage flies need to be destroyed, even when the lettuce is cut to form seeds, as the fly parasitizes flowers, causing serious damage to the plant.
- Salad aphid. The insect has a length of up to 2.5 mm, is painted in a grayish-green color. Parasitic on the entire green part of the salad. Damaged areas become discolored, twisted; the salad begins to ache, and its lower leaves become mosaic. As in the case of the fly, a good effect is given by the 40% Phosphamide solution. You can also treat infusion onion peel or dandelion.
Harvesting Romaine Lettuce
Harvesting also has its own nuances, which you need to know. The fact is that romaine lettuce, depending on the precocity of the variety and destination, is collected at different times and in different ways.
The first method involves obtaining re-harvest after harvesting the main one. Initially, you need to determine the ripeness of the salad: press with your finger on the core of the salad, if it is solid - the salad has ripened. After determining the maturity you need to cut all the plants to the ground level, leaving everything else in the ground. In a month, from 2 to 5 leaves are produced on each plant, after which you can reassemble romen lettuce. Using this method, you can increase the amount of the product obtained by at least 30%.
Important! 10-15 days before harvesting the cabbages must be firmly tied so that the leaves fit snugly together. This procedure is called "bleaching", it allows you to get a tight head, bleach the leaves and rid them of bitterness.Another way involves harvesting in one go. After the salad has ripened, it is completely cut off, remove unnecessary leaves that can not be used in cooking or for sale. Leaves and roots are crushed and embedded in the ground. Since lettuce accumulates a lot of mineral substances, when it is decimated, the plant remains will fertilize the soil quite well.
The latter method of harvesting is designed to produce seed. It is important to understand that in this case the salad itself will be practically unsuitable for human consumption.
Seed collection is started after the leaves turn brown and there are flying leaves on the inflorescences. Seeds can be collected as immediately from all plants, and in stages. After collecting the seed, it must be threshed and decomposed for drying. Next, the seeds need to be cleaned through a sieve of debris (carried out in 2 stages to achieve maximum seed purity).
Important! Phased seed collection gives a greater yield of better quality, but many seeds will crumble, which can lead to re-germination on the site.
Growing romen seedlings
There are several ways to plant romaine lettuce on seedlings.
Let's start with the traditional method of sowing seedlings, which is suitable for early and medium varieties of romaine lettuce. Seeds for seedlings are sown between mid-March and mid-April. For planting small boxes or pots of rectangular shape are used. Planting material is buried 1 cm in the soil, and the planting pattern is 5 x 4 cm. After sowing, the substrate must be moistened. In the process of planting seeds and growing young plants, it is necessary to loosen the soil several times and maintain soil moisture.
To speed up the sowing and growth of seedlings, the temperature in the room / greenhouse should not be below 20 ° C. After the appearance of the first shoots, the temperature is reduced by 5–7 days to 10 ° C during the day, and to 6–8 ° C at night. After a week in the cold, the temperature is raised to 16-18 ° C (the temperature at night should be 2 degrees lower than during the day). Humidity in the room should not fall below 60%. Plants that are 30-40 days old are planted in the open ground (each plant should have 4-5 leaves).
The second method of planting seedlings is used to grow late varieties to accelerate the growth of young plants. The following composition is used as a substrate for sowing: 800 g of lowland peat, 5 g of mullein and 15 g of sawdust per 1 kg of soil mixture. To 1 cubic meter of the mixture add 1.5 kg of ammonium nitrate, 1.7 kg of superphosphate, 600 g of potassium chloride, 1.5 g of copper sulfate, 3 g of ammonium molybdate and 3 g of sodium borate. The listed components need to be added to peat a month before sowing the seeds in order to get all the necessary reactions. The pattern and depth of planting, as well as further care of the seeds, coincide with the first method of sowing seedlings.
Use this article to grow tasty and healthy romaine lettuce on your site. Однако помните, что злоупотребление удобрениями может пагубно сказаться на экологической чистоте готового продукта.
