Traditional Curly Lettuce

500 Seeds

Traditional Curly Lettuce is a cool-season leafy vegetable known for its crisp, curly green leaves and mild, refreshing flavor. It is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, folate, potassium, antioxidants, and dietary fiber. Curly lettuce is ideal for salads, sandwiches, wraps, garnishes, and fresh juices. It grows quickly and performs very well in the Gulf region during the cooler months. It is also an excellent choice for hydroponic systems, raised beds, containers, and home gardens.

Best Planting Time

• September to February (recommended)
• Best growth occurs from October to January.
• Avoid outdoor planting during the hot summer months.

Seed Preparation

• No soaking or cold stratification is required.
• For faster germination, seeds may be soaked in cool water for 2–4 hours (optional).

Soil Preparation

Use loose, fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Recommended mix:

• 40% Coco peat
• 30% Compost
• 20% Garden soil
• 10% Perlite

Ideal soil pH:

• 6.0–7.0

Sowing Method

• Sow seeds directly or in seed trays.
• Plant seeds 0.3–0.5 cm deep.
• Cover lightly with fine soil or vermiculite.
• Keep the soil consistently moist until germination.
• Lettuce seeds need some light for optimal germination, so avoid covering them too deeply.

Temperature & Light

• Ideal germination temperature: 15–22°C
• Ideal growing temperature: 15–25°C
• Requires 4–6 hours of direct morning sunlight or bright indirect light.
• Provide afternoon shade if temperatures exceed 28°C.

Watering

• Keep the soil evenly moist throughout growth.
• Water when the top 1–2 cm of soil begins to dry.
• Avoid allowing the soil to dry out completely, as this may cause bitter leaves and premature bolting.

Germination Time

• 5–10 days

Transplanting

• Transplant seedlings when they have:
  • 3–4 true leaves
  • Height of 8–10 cm
• Space plants:
  • 25–30 cm apart
• Space rows:
  • 30–40 cm apart

Harvesting

• Baby leaves can be harvested after:
  • 25–30 days
• Full-size heads are ready after:
  • 45–60 days
• Harvest outer leaves as needed or cut the whole head at the base.

Hydroponic Growing

• Performs exceptionally well in NFT, DWC, Kratky, and vertical hydroponic systems.
• Maintain nutrient solution pH 5.8–6.5.
• Maintain EC 0.8–1.4 mS/cm for healthy leafy growth.

Gulf Climate Tips

• Plant only during the cool season for the best quality.
• Use 30–50% shade cloth if temperatures rise unexpectedly.
• Apply organic mulch to keep roots cool.
• Fertilize every 2 weeks with a nitrogen-rich balanced fertilizer.
• Harvest regularly to encourage continuous leaf production.
• Traditional Curly Lettuce is one of the easiest leafy vegetables to grow in hydroponic systems and home gardens throughout the Gulf during the cooler months.