Where is bibb lettuce grown

You can sow seeds in the ground as much as six weeks before the last frost date, if applicable in your area, or sow seeds indoors up to 10 weeks before the last expected frost.

Space each planting row at least 18 inches apart. After seedlings emerge, thin the plants to leave only one healthy plant for every 12 inches of growing space. Water the "Bibb" lettuce frequently to keep the soil moist but not soaking wet. Squeeze a bit soil in your palm to determine appropriate watering. The soil should form a loose ball that is slightly crumbly. Soil sticks together when too wet and falls apart easily when too dry.

Organic Vegetable Gardening. Garden Zones. Greenhouse Container Gardening. Natural Pest Control. A-Z Pests. Beneficial Pests. Bibb type lettuces are known for their 'buttery' taste and velvety texture, and small loosely formed heads. Relative to most other lettuce types, Bibbs are slightly more tolerant of heat. Even so, they are best planted early or late in the season in spring, away from the intense summer sun.

They may be started indoors several weeks prior to the last frost of the season. Partial shade, or a location that receives primarily eastward exposure may be helpful if growing in summer. Bibb usually need between days to reach maturity, so plan your plantings accordingly.

Leaves can be collected throughout the growing cycle. Space plants " apart with 12" between rows. Lettuce grows best in full sun, though excessive heat can cause plants to bolt to seed, or leaves to wilt. For an early start, seeds can be started in flats 4 weeks prior to the last frost and transplanted outdoors in mid to late spring. If growing in summer, select a partially shaded location, or one that receives primarily eastward exposure to mitigate the potentially damaging effects of excessive heat upon lettuce.

Lettuce is tolerant of a wide range of soils, but prefers well-drained, cool, loose soil with plentiful moisture and pH 6. Sensitive to low pH. Lime to at least 6. To encourage tender and tasty growth, make sure location is rich in organic compost matter. Amend prior to planting if needed. Sowing Direct seed or transplant in early spring, as soon as you can work the soil. To get an early start, prepare beds the previous fall by working in manure or compost and raking smooth to leave a fine seedbed.

Seeds need light to germinate; sow at a very shallow depth by covering with a thin layer of growing medium. When plants have two or three true leaves, thin to inch spacings for crisphead varieties, 6 to 10 inches for other types. You can also lightly broadcast seed particularly of looseleaf varieties in a patch instead of a row. Sow in 1-inch cells 3 to 4 weeks before transplanting outside. Harden seedlings by reducing water and temperature for 3 days before transplanting.

Hardened plants should survive 20 F. Space crisphead transplants 12 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart. Space other varieties 6 to 10 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Use row covers to protect very early plantings from cold, to protect young plants from insects, and supported by hoops to shade crops when warm weather arrives.

Make succession plantings every week or two, and grow several varieties with different maturity dates for a continuous supply. Moisture, stress, and high temperatures, particularly at night, encourage bolting. As the season progresses, plant more bolt-resistant varieties. Locate plants where they will be partially shaded by taller nearby plants, latticework or other screen.

She continues to keep plants in her apartment in Texas and has a special love for succulents. Heirloom Organics writes about butter lettuce. I live in the Philippines and it is usually pretty hot. My question is, do these plants need much sun? My house is AirConned. Termites are horrible here. Thanks for your valuable time and consideration.

Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Our gardening obsessed editors and writers choose every product we review. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you.

How to Plant Butter Lettuce You can start butter lettuce indoors or plant it directly into the soil outdoors. Care of Butter Lettuce Make sure to keep the soil moist before the seeds sprout. Garden Pests and Diseases of Butter Lettuce Unfortunately, butter lettuce is prone to many different types of pests. Harvesting Butter Lettuce From the time of planting, butter lettuce takes approximately 60 to 70 days to mature. Butter Lettuce Varieties to Grow in Your Home Garden There are two main varieties of butter lettuce, both of which grow very well in a home garden.

Bibb : This variety of lettuce is named after its original cultivator, John Bibb, who began cultivating this variety in the s. The plants can tolerate this closer spacing in pots, where they won't have any competition from weeds.

Use a lightweight potting mix rather than garden soil or topsoil to ensure good drainage. Plants should not need repotting; if they begin to get crowded, harvest and start over with a new planting. Slugs and aphids are the worst pests for the succulent, rapid-growing butterhead lettuce leaves. Practice cultural controls, such as handpicking and traps for slugs, or blasts of water for aphids. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads.

Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. In This Article Expand. Butterhead vs. Leaf Lettuce.