2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Lettuce (lat. Lactiuca sativa) - an annual herb, a moisture-loving and light-loving green crop, used mainly as a vitamin green.
History
Lettuce was known even to the ancient Romans, who tore it into large pieces, salted it and poured it with olive oil. And in the Middle Ages, salad was served as a side dish for meat.
In Europe, it began to be cultivated in the 16th century, and in Russia, lettuce began to be grown approximately from the 17th century.
Description
Lettuce differs from its headed fellow lettuce in that its leaves do not form heads of cabbage. Its stems are highly branched, full and reach a height of sixty to one hundred and twenty centimeters. The leaves of the plant are equipped with basal rosettes and are usually painted in yellowish-greenish tones. True, occasionally you can meet their reddish varieties. In addition, the leaves can be curly or corrugated, as well as wrinkled or smooth. The bases of the leaves are usually cordate-sagittate, and on the lower sides along the veins, tiny setae can be seen on the leaves.
The pitcher-shaped miniature inflorescences-baskets are collected in cylindrical heads and are located on the stems in the form of numerous panicles. Small bisexual ligulate flowers are painted in yellowish shades, and the fruits are achenes with volutes.
Spreading
Unfortunately, the homeland of lettuce is unknown to anyone. It is possible that it descended from the compass lettuce, which grows wild in Western Asia, South and Western Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, as well as in Siberia (right up to Altai itself) and in Transcaucasia.
As a cultivated plant, lettuce is currently cultivated in all countries of the world. And it was first introduced into culture long before the beginning of our era in the Mediterranean.
Benefit
Lettuce is considered a very nutritious and light food that can give odds to a considerable number of foods. Its greens, rich in carotenoids and carotene, can easily help preserve vision, as well as improve the condition of mucous membranes and skin. In addition, lettuce is able to protect against Alzheimer's disease, ensure the full formation of tooth enamel and bones, calm the nervous system and significantly improve the quality of sleep. And in terms of vitamin C content, this nutritious product is almost as good as lemon.
Also, lettuce is rich in folic acid, which is vital for pregnant women.
Application
Lettuce is a real storehouse of vitamins. Not only its leaves are eaten, but also thickened stems.
Growing
Lettuce is ideally recommended to be planted after crops for which various organic fertilizers were previously applied. And this plant is allowed to return to its former places only after two or three years. Lettuce grows well next to radishes, radishes and all types of cabbage - moreover, it scares off earthen fleas that harm these crops. Lettuce will grow just as well next to tomatoes, peas, strawberries, spinach, cucumbers and beans. And for the salad itself, the neighborhood with onions will serve well - the latter will scare off aphids. As for carrots and high beet thickets, it is not worth planting a salad next to them, since high and dense plantings harm its full development, although, of course, it needs some shading.
Since lettuce is an early ripening and very cold-resistant annual, its seeds can be planted well before winter. As a rule, this is done towards the end of October or at the beginning of November. Early-ripening varieties are sown by gardeners in April or May, and late-ripening or mid-ripening varieties are sown from April to mid-June. For ease of planting, tiny lettuce seeds are often mixed with sand, and they need to be embedded in the soil to a depth of about one centimeter.
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