How to Fertilize Lettuce Step by Step – Sembrar100

Have you ever wondered how lettuce is able to produce so many leaves at the same time?

Surely the reason is that whoever cultivated them followed a good fertilization plan that would help fulfill this objective.

The reality is that it is not about anything that you could not do at home, you just have to have the precise information to achieve it. And we will take care of that in this post that will surely be very helpful.

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Why is it important to fertilize lettuce?

Lettuces are very demanding plants when it comes to nutrients. In fact, it is one of the key conditions for them to prosper after planting. The fact is that even if you plant them in soil rich in organic matter, these nutrients will not be enough to cover the needs of the entire cycle.

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The application of fertilizers at the right times will help the fruits grow larger, which translates into more leaves.In addition, lettuce is very prone to attack by pests due to the conditions in which it grows.

But when they are well nourished, the chances of coping with these attacks are much greater and the plant will remain healthy.

How often should we pay the lettuce?

Good news on this subject is that lettuces are plants that develop quite quickly.

This means that a single application throughout their growing period could be more than enough to give them what they need.

In any case, it is important to consider that this subscriber has to be done after the seedling has emerged from the ground.

If you want the leaves of the lettuce to be even better, you can apply a fertilization when it is in full growth.

What nutrients do lettuces need?

Lettuces will need phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) to develop in the most convenient way.Being a green plant, the most essential element is nitrogen, since it is responsible for supporting growth in this phase.

Therefore, it is recommended that the applications you make are with a higher level of nitrogen and lower levels of phosphorus and potassium. Due to the condition of the phosphorus and the possibilities of absorption that the substrate has, it must be applied as phosphates.

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Micronutrients are also necessary, but it will not be necessary to apply them if you consider that the nutritional levels of your soil are favorable. To be more certain about this aspect, you can run a soil study if you have the possibilities.

This way you will not only assess the micronutrients, but you will also have the opportunity to correct any specific deficit.

What kind of fertilizers do lettuces need?

The ideal is to work with fertilizers that contain the three main types of nutrients in a balanced way. These can be of a homemade organic type, such as homemade compost or manure in an advanced state of decomposition.

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In agricultural stores it is possible to find products that also help with this issue, either in a water-soluble or granulated version. Other fertilizers that are also very favorable in the lettuce growth process are seaweed or fish emulsions.

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How do we prepare fertilizer for lettuce?

Homemade fertilizers, such as manure and compost, have to be prepared weeks in advance so that they break down properly.

This allows the microorganisms to carry out their processes properly and leaves the nutrients available for the use of the lettuce.

To apply it later to lettuce crops, you will only have to add a portion in an area close to the plant.

It is important that the fertilizer does not touch the lettuce directly to avoid overfeeding that ends up affecting the crop.

If you decide to work with commercial fertilizers, you must pay close attention to how you apply them so as not to take risks with your crop. Although on many occasions they can guide you to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, it is best to start with half the concentration and increase it as you see the behavior.

This simple protection action will prevent the lettuce from suffering inconveniences due to excess nutrients that can do a lot of damage. To apply it, just water normally as you always do or, in the case of granules, spread them on the surface near the plant without touching it.

After fertilizing with the granules you will have to water to help the nutrients penetrate the soil.In the event that you work with fish or seaweed emulsions, follow the product instructions to apply in the most convenient way.

How do we detect if the lettuce needs fertilizer?

The lettuces will need fertilizer when you see that the foliage is wilting, with yellowing leaves or growing too slowly.These conditions can also be due to other factors, such as overwatering, so you’ll need to go ahead with a culling first on this matter.

Other warning signs regarding a nutrient deficit are evidenced when the foliage grows strangely, with misshapen leaves, for example. Although it is not highly recommended for general use, foliar fertilizations are useful when these cases occur.

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The reason is that they allow the plant to obtain and manage nutrients more quickly than when they are made in the soil. Hence, it is even more important to work on ensuring that nutritional levels are in optimal conditions.

Fertilizing lettuce is a process that begins before planting because this type of plant does not like poor soils. But after they are well established, you will hardly have to deal with this task because they are very efficient in managing resources.

Of course, always ensure the work with organic fertilizers so that your substrate acquires more nutritional value and is available for new plantings in the following periods.