Jericho Romaine Lettuce Heirloom Vegetable SeedsLactuca sativaListing is for 1 packet of approximately 100 seedsThis is a romaine lettuce, meaning the leaves are more stiff/crunchy than other lettuces, which is my preference. Its an heirloom variety from Israel that tolerates a lot more heat than many other lettuce cultivars. Also has a decent resistance to tip burn and having a bitter flavor when exposed to heat. The leaves are a solid green color, crunchy, and have an upright structure. I like to harvest each individual leaf as needed so it will keep growing and producing more leaves. You can harvest the entire head if preferred. I add a big handful of blood meal in the planting hole and that is the only time I fertilize. Blood meal is high in nitrogen and helps any type of leafy greens to grow an abundance of leaves with saturated color. Ideal Growing Conditions Sun: Does best getting 6 hours of sun a day. Grow in partial shade in hot climates. Water: Keep the soil consistently moist Fertilizer: Add some blood meal into the planting hole before transplanting or work some into the soil before direct sowing seeds. This one time application of fertilizer should be enough for the entire growing season. When & How To Sow Seeds: For a spring crop: direct sow after your last spring frost date, or sow seeds in pots, 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost date. For a fall crop, direct sow seeds 3-4 months before your first winter frost date. Can continue succession sowing through winter if plants are provided with frost protection. In milder climates (like Florida zones 9, 10, and 11) can also start sowing in fall to grow through fall, winter, and spring. Sprinkle a few seeds over the soil surface, pat down, cover with 1/4 inch of soil, and water in. Can follow square foot gardening guidelines to space 4 lettuce plants per square foot, or plant each one 10 to 12 inches apart. Germination: 7-10 days Days To Maturity: 65 days after direct sowing the seed How & When To Harvest: This is a Romaine lettuce. Harvest once the center head of Romaine starts to form, but before the center sends up a flower stalk. Common Diseases: The most common disease when growing lettuce is downy mildew. It thrives in cool, wet conditions and can spread rapidly, causing yellow spots on the leaves that eventually turn brown and die. Proper plant spacing to improve air flow helps. Spray with 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water every 3 to 5 days until you notice the spread has stopped. Common Pests: Critters like rabbits love to munch on lettuce plants. Protection from small animals might be required. The most common pest when growing lettuce is aphids. Use a strong spray of water to dislodge aphids from the leaves. For more severe infestations, spray with organic insecticidal soap or spinosad. Do I have a YouTube video tutorial on how to grow this? YES Watch it here: https://youtu.be/EDgdSgomdsM Additional Tips/Information: N/A
