- Plant the iceberg lettuce six to eight weeks before the last expected spring frost. ...
- Plant iceberg lettuce seeds in a shallow seed tray. Fill the bottom of each cell of the tray with some standard potting soil before you sprinkle a few seeds ...
- Place the seed tray indoors in a sunny area. Put the tray by a window or in a bright room where the seeds will get around twelve hours of ...
- Keep the soil the seeds are planted in moist soil. Check the seed tray every day, and water the seeds whenever the soil feels dry.
- Use scissors to cut the lettuce sprouts so there’s only one per cell. ...
- Let the lettuce grow indoors for six weeks. After six weeks, the lettuce plants should be large enough to transplant outside. [6]
Is Iceburg lettuce the worst kind of lettuce to eat?
Most experts consider Iceberg lettuce the worst kind because it has a very low nutrient content. Iceberg lettuce contains a small amount of calcium, potassium, and phosphorus, and little else. It’s mostly water, and if your pet eats too much, it could cause diarrhea. However, it’s not toxic, and your pet will be fine if it eats some.
What is a good substitute for iceberg lettuce?
- You can use Iceberg lettuce which is less flavor but crisp like romaine.
- OR - Use butter head lettuce ( Bibb or Boston) which is softer but flavorful
- OR - Leaf lettuce like oak leaf or Lollo rosso.
- OR - For a green with a little bite, but firm leaves try curly endive . I've used this in a Caesar salad and it was very good. ...
How to grow iceberg lettuce from seed?
Plant your iceberg lettuce seeds directly in the soil of your garden or container at a depth of 0.5 inches (1 centimetre). Seeds can be planted outside or you can germinate them indoors and transplant them later. Typically, iceberg lettuce seeds take about 1 - 2 weeks to fully germinate. If transplanting, the best time to move iceberg lettuce ...
Is romaine lettuce healthier than iceberg lettuce?
Romaine lettuce nutrition is generally considered to be better than that of iceberg lettuce when comparing equivalent serving sizes. Each serving of romaine lettuce has 15 calories. In terms of vitamins and minerals it contains:
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How is iceberg lettuce produced?
Iceberg lettuce seed is planted by the grower at depths of approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inches primarily on 40-inch raised beds with 2 seedlines per bed. A small percentage of iceberg lettuce is produced on 80 inch beds with 5 seedlines per bed.
Does iceberg lettuce regrow after cutting?
Yes, iceberg lettuce will regrow after cutting. Cut off the bottom of the head of lettuce and place it in a bowl or vase with water. The lettuce will start to regrow within two weeks. You can then harvest the regrown lettuce and eat it.
Where does iceberg lettuce grow best?
Iceberg was first cultivated in the Salinas Valley of California, then packed in ice and distributed across the US on trains, earning its namesake. Space plants 12" apart with 18" between rows. Lettuce grows best in full sun, though excessive heat can cause plants to bolt to seed, or leaves to wilt.
What plant does iceberg lettuce come from?
The leafy green heads of iceberg lettuce are the most popular kind of lettuce, consumed almost universally by Americans. First time gardeners are often surprised to discover that iceberg lettuce is nothing more than the leaves of the lettuce plant.
How do you pick lettuce so it keeps growing?
2:317:24How to Harvest Lettuce so it Keeps on Growing & Wash & Store ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn as long as you keep up with pinching off the outer leaves. The lettuce will continue to grow.MoreIn as long as you keep up with pinching off the outer leaves. The lettuce will continue to grow.
How do you harvest iceberg lettuce so it keeps growing?
0:144:30Harvesting Head Lettuce Tips and tricks out the wazoo - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe other thing to think about is to make sure you're not cutting too high if you cut too high you'MoreThe other thing to think about is to make sure you're not cutting too high if you cut too high you're gonna lose a lot of your leaves. Off those heads. And the third thing to keep in mind.
Is iceberg lettuce hard to grow?
Growing your own iceberg lettuce is simple, especially when you keep the seedlings indoors for the first couple of months. By keeping the lettuce cool and moist, and growing it at the right time of year, you'll have crisp, refreshing iceberg lettuce you can harvest right from your garden.
Why is it called iceberg lettuce?
Introduced for commercial production in the late 1940s, Iceberg (or crisphead) lettuce was the only variety bred to survive cross-country travel (the name Iceberg comes from the piles of ice they would pack the light green lettuce heads in before the advent of the refrigerated train car).
Is iceberg lettuce a hybrid?
Iceberg Crisphead or Head Lettuce Seed - Heirloom Seeds, Open-Pollinated, non-Hybrid Victory Seeds® 'Iceberg' crisphead lettuce.
Why is iceberg lettuce not good for you?
“With the high water content, iceberg lettuce isn't as rich in [nutrients] as other types of lettuce,” Feller explains. The sky-high levels of H20, mean there's just not as much room for other good stuff, like vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making iceberg lettuce nutrition less impressive.
Is iceberg lettuce real lettuce?
Did you know? Iceberg lettuce was developed in 1894 by the Burpee Seed Co. It's just one variety of crisphead lettuce but arguably the most iconic. Its name comes from the way lettuce was originally packed and transported -- on crushed ice, making the heads look like icebergs, notes Tanimura & Antle, a Salinas, Calif.
What is the safest lettuce to eat?
If you have Romaine in the house, the CDC says throw it out, and wash the area in the fridge where it was located. That doesn't mean you can't have lettuce. There's still iceberg lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce and butterhead lettuce, which are still safe to eat, according to the CDC.
Will lettuce grow back after cutting?
Lettuce regrows once its leaves have been cut or picked off the main stem. As long as the root is intact in the ground and there are at least 1-2 inches of stem and leaves at the base, lettuce will shoot new growth in as little as a week. The cut-and-come-again harvesting method is the most popular.
Will head lettuce grow back?
Head lettuce will die back, but most leaf-lettuce plants renew efforts to produce leaves, if regularly watered after trimming. Results will often be smaller than the original plant, but you may be able to harvest a second, good-tasting crop within as little as two weeks.
What lettuce is cut-and-come-again?
They are often called cut-and-come-again lettuces. Cutting lettuces are mostly nonheading leaf varieties from two groups, Grand Rapids and oakleaf. The Grand Rapids group produces broad, crinkled, and frilly leaves, while the oakleaf varieties have flatter and distinctively lobed leaves.
How many times can you harvest lettuce?
You can grow leaf lettuce in rows for nice bundles of loose leaf lettuce, or you can sow it thickly in a garden bed or container for harvest as young, tender lettuce. By harvesting leaf lettuce through trimming it a few inches above the soil, you can get two to three harvests from one planting.
How long does it take for iceberg lettuce to grow?
Exact number days to maturity varies, and Iceberg lettuce plants may take somewhere between 55 and 90 days to be ready for harvest. Like most lettuce, Iceberg has a tendency to bolt quickly in hot weather, so it’s recommended to plant spring crops as early as possible. To harvest, remove the entire head once it’s large and feels tightly packed.
What is Iceberg Lettuce?
by train on ice, which is what earned it its name. Since then, it’s become one of, if not the most popular lettuce, gracing restaurants and dinner tables all over with its crunchy texture.
What color are the leaves on iceberg lettuce?
The outer leaves are bright green in color, while the inner leaves and heart are light green to yellow and sometimes even white. The center of the head is the sweetest part, though the entire Iceberg lettuce plant has a very mild flavor, making it ideal as a backdrop to more potent salad and sandwich ingredients.
What is the most popular lettuce?
Iceberg is perhaps the most popular variety of lettuce in grocery stores and restaurants around the world. While not the most flavorful, it is nevertheless prized for its texture, lending its crispness to salads, sandwiches, and anything else that might need a little extra crunch.
History and Cultivation
This is a widely adapted crop and can be grown in different climates across the US.
Varieties
With dozens of different varieties of crisp head lettuces to choose from, there will be no lack of flavor coming from your garden.
Pests and Diseases
This resilient crop only has a few potential pest problems to keep an eye out for.
Plant Uses
Use your homegrown lettuce to add a fresh, hydrating crunch to your favorite recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Luckily, this vegetable is very easy to grow and care for. Simply plant in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked or in cool fall weather. Grow in full sun to partial shade, with soil that is well-drained, consistently moist and weed free.
Final Thoughts
Iceberg lettuce gets a bad rap amongst many health foodies, but they don’t realize that garden iceberg is an entirely different beast than its industrial counterparts. This crisp, mild, dense lettuce is the perfect addition to summer salads and can actually be loaded with nutrition when grown in your healthy organic garden soil.
Where is iceberg lettuce grown?
Iceberg lettuce is grown year-round in California and Arizona and is shipped throughout the United States and Canada where it makes its way, in various forms, to grocery stores, restaurants, and food service establishments. Growing lettuce can be a labor-intensive process because of the delicacy of handling the product. However, the overall cost of production varies in terms of labor costs, soil, weather, water costs, and other inputs. For producers, benefits outweigh the production cost because high demand for this lettuce in the U.S. fuels profits. The consumption of all lettuce types has grown since the 1960’s, reaching a high of 34.5 pounds per capita as of 2004, which has since decreased to the 2015 annual consumption of 25.6 pounds per capita. In 2018, lettuce ranked number six in California commodity values, generating sales of 1.8 billion dollars, and it was the number 15 commodity with $297 million in sales, down 6.3% from the previous year.
What is iceberg lettuce?
Introduction. Iceberg lettuce, also known as crisphead, is one of the six types of lettuce crops, which includes Roma ine, loose-leaf, and butterhead, and it is one of the only types not available in a red varietal. These L. sativa cultivars are all within Lactuca genus, which includes most other varieties of lettuce.
How long does iceberg lettuce last?
Whole head iceberg is now shipped globally and has a shelf life of three to four weeks (cut lettuce has a shorter shelf life). Although iceberg can be traced to the early 20 th century in the Americas, lettuce was found growing as a weed over 4,500 years ago in the Mediterranean region.
What are the pathogens that cause lettuce outbreaks?
The major pathogens that have caused outbreaks associated with lettuce have been Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. Production of iceberg lettuce in the United States occurs largely in California and Arizona where the mild climate contributes to high crop yields.
Why does the production cost of lettuce outweigh the benefits?
For producers, benefits outweigh the production cost because high demand for this lettuce in the U.S. fuels profits . The consumption of all lettuce types has grown since the 1960’s, reaching a high of 34.5 pounds per capita as of 2004, which has since decreased to the 2015 annual consumption of 25.6 pounds per capita.
Why is lettuce called an iceberg?
It was developed to withstand the long journeys along the Trans-Atlantic Railroad and was a symbol of the expanding U.S. industrial agriculture system during the mid-20 th century.
Why do lettuce farms use sprinklers?
A large majority of the iceberg lettuce farms operating in the southern desert regions of the United States use overhead sprinklers to ensure adequate water to generate rapid growth from the seedlings. Once seedlings are established, plants are irrigated by furrows for the remainder of the growing season.
What Is Iceberg Lettuce?
Iceberg lettuce is a type of lettuce known for its mild flavor and crisp texture. It has a pale green color and a round head that closely resembles other lettuce varieties, such as cabbage.
What is the nutritional value of iceberg lettuce?
The iceberg lettuce nutrition facts also boast a small amount of vitamin B6, iron and calcium.
What is the difference between iceberg lettuce and cabbage?
In fact, because iceberg lettuce has a high water content, it contains a lower amount of several important vitamins and minerals.
How many calories are in iceberg lettuce?
One cup (about 72 grams) of shredded iceberg lettuce contains the following nutrients: 10.1 calories. 2.3 grams carbohydrates.
How to know if lettuce is spoiling?
Look for a head of lettuce with no visible spots or signs of spoilage on the outer leaves. Be sure to wash thoroughly before using and store in the refrigerator to extend its shelf life as long as possible.
Does lettuce help you lose weight?
In fact, according to one study published in Nutrition & Diabetes, increased fruit and vegetable intake was associated with improved weight loss and fat loss, suggesting that adding healthy vegetables — like iceberg lettuce — to your diet could be beneficial if you’re looking to lose weight. 2. Keeps Bones Strong.
Is iceberg lettuce a good salad?
Iceberg lettuce is a common yet controversial ingredient. Although it’s considered a staple for many classic salads and sandwiches, it has also drawn criticism from nutrition-conscious consumers as other greens like kale and spinach nutrition take center stage.
Where is lettuce grown in New York?
If you've ever visited a lettuce farm in, say, the Hudson Valley of New York, it can be a little unsettling to see a huge field of lettuce in Yuma with palm trees and mountains in the background. Advertisement. These fields stretch for miles to the east of Yuma, up the often-dry Gila River.
Where does lettuce come from in Arizona?
Unless you're a homesteader, a Sunbelt resident who eats only food from your local farmers market, or an extremely devout carnivore, you've almost certainly eaten lettuce from Yuma, Arizona, a city of 93,000 at the nexus of Arizona, California and Mexico. The Yuma area, including the Imperial Valley across the California border, ...
What is the taste of Oak Leaf lettuce?
Oak leaf lettuce comes in both red and green varieties. It grows as individual lobed leaves with soft and ruffly leaves. The taste is sweet and mild, comparable to Boston lettuce. Photo from asha susan, Flickr.
What is watercress lettuce?
Watercress is an aquatically grown lettuce that has long hollow stems with round lobed leaves. It has a peppery taste. Enjoy it on its own, in mixed salads, or wilted into Asian soups and stir-frys.
What is radicchio lettuce?
Radicchio is Italian in origin. The lettuce is characterized by dark red leaves with bright white stems on a tightly packed head. The taste is bitter. Radicchio comes in two main varieties, the small cabbage-like Chioggia and oblong Treviso. Radicchio is great in mixed salads and also works well grilled.
What is Boston lettuce?
Boston (a.k.a. Bibb) lettuce is delicate lettuce with pale green, soft cup-shaped leaves. The flavor is mild and sweet. Sometimes in the supermarket you will find hydroponically grown Boston lettuce, which has the benefit of having no dirt or sand in the leaves. Photo from photofarmer, Flickr.
How long does it take for water to come to the farm?
Farmers submit orders for water to their local irrigation district. When it arrives, about three days later, they open gates of the small canals adjacent to their fields and allow water to run through the furrows between rows of lettuce, saturating the soil in the beds.
How to collect lettuce after it bolts?
When your lettuce bolts, you have three paths to choose between. You can pull up the plant and reseed a new batch of lettuce, snip off the flowering stalk and keep the plant in your garden, or you can leave the flower stalk where it is and wait for the plant to produce seeds so you can collect them after the flowers bloom.
How to slow down lettuce harvest?
And when you harvest your lettuce, do it properly. For heading varieties, use clean, sterilized shears to cut the top two thirds of the plant off.
Why is my lettuce bolting?
In the bolting stage, a plant stops focusing so much on producing foliage and starts to turn its attention toward reproduction, sending out a flower stalk that will eventually dry to release seeds. When your lettuce bolts, the flower stalk draws energy and nutrients away from the lettuce leaves, making them more bitter and reducing their quality the longer the stalk remains on the plant. However, the leaves of bolted lettuce are edible.
Can you keep lettuce from bolting?
It’s impossible to keep your lettuce from bolting because bolting is a necessary part of the plant’s growth cycle. But there are some things you can do to stave bolting off as long as possible. Whenever possible, choose varieties of lettuce that are slow to bolt.
