Pricking out is an important step when sowing young lettuce plants. Iceberg lettuce seedlings also respond to being transplanted into individual pots with vigorous growth. Read the best tips here for the optimal time and the correct procedure. This is how you properly prick iceberg lettuce.
How is iceberg lettuce pricked?
Iceberg lettuce is transplanted by transplanting each seedling with at leasttwo leavesfrom the seed tray into a pot. Use the pricking stick to drill a hole in the growing soil, dig up the lettuce plants individually and plant them in their own growing pot.
When is iceberg lettuce pricked?
The best time to transplant iceberg lettuce is when the seedlings have their firstleaves above the two cotyledons. The cotyledons form within 7 to 14 days after sowing and can be clearly distinguished from the leaves that follow later.
If the lush green leaves turn light green, this is another indication that the seed tray is too crowded for the plants.
What is needed to prick iceberg lettuce?
To prick out iceberg lettuce you needgrowing soil,pricking stick,growing pots, asmall knifeand awatering can.
A mixture of vegetable soil and coconut soil in a ratio of 2:1 is suitable as growing soil. Instead of a pricking stick, you can also use a chopstick or a pencil. The ideal growing pots are 6 cm to 8 cm in size and are made of compostable pulp. This has the advantage that the lettuce plants can later be planted in the bed complete with pot.
How do I prick iceberg lettuce correctly?
Iceberg lettuce is transplanted by transplanting eachseedling individuallyfrom the seed tray into a pot. The following instructions explain how to do it correctly:
- Fill the cultivation pots with substrate up to the edge.
- Water the soil.
- Lift a single plant out of the seed tray with the pricking stick.
- Short very long roots to 1.5 cm with a knife.
- Drill a hole in the moist potting soil with the pricking rod and plant the seedling.
- Press the soil around the young iceberg lettuce carefully with your fingers.
- Transplant each seedling into its own pot in this way.
What temperature does iceberg lettuce need after pricking?
After pricking out, the iceberg lettuce needs a few days in cool15° Celsius to recover from the stress of moving. It is best for the freshly pricked lettuce plants to spend the regeneration phase in a bright, not full sun location. Light-flooded, unheated rooms, such as bedrooms, stairwells or winter gardens, are well suited.
Tip
Planting iceberg lettuce – not too deep – not too narrow
You can plant iceberg lettuce outdoors in May. At this point, the plants cannot be distinguished from other types of lettuce such as lettuce or lettuce. In order for iceberg lettuce to form a firm, round head, the planting distance and depth are important: The lettuce plants are planted in the bed at a distance of 30 cm to 35 cm to just below the root neck.
