How to Plant and Grow ‘Winter Density’ Lettuce

Lactuca sativa ‘Winter Density’

Until you steadily experiment with totally different lettuce varieties, it may be straightforward to assume that there isn’t that a lot distinction between them.

However then you definately chunk into ‘Winter Density,’ and it’s like opening the door to a hidden world.

‘Winter Density’ has a juicy, crisp texture and a candy taste that stands out out of your frequent store-bought romaine.

Plus, it’s so adaptable and straightforward to develop which you could pop some seeds within the floor and mainly overlook about it till it’s time to benefit from the leaves.

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When you’ve grown lettuce earlier than, then you recognize the routine – if not, make sure to take a look at our information to rising lettuce for all of the fundamentals. ‘Winter Density’ doesn’t require any particular care – or a lot care in any respect.

Developing, this information will cowl all the pieces you have to know, together with:

Cultivation and Historical past

Nobody is certain precisely the place this incredible cultivar got here from, although we all know it was bred within the 1800s in England.

It was launched to France and have become wildly in style there within the late 1800s and early 1900s.

‘Winter Density’ is a cross between a butterhead and a romaine lettuce, with eight-inch-tall heads that mature in about 55 to 65 days.

It has an upright development behavior and a dense coronary heart. It’s tolerant of frost and can produce properly even in partial solar. It received’t bolt in reasonable warmth or a freeze, both.

You may additionally see it marketed as ‘Craquerelle du Midi’ or ‘Craquante D’Avignon.’

After harvest, the heads can last as long as per week when saved correctly, which is longer than most lettuce cultivars.

‘Winter Density’ Propagation

Lettuce needs to be planted straight outside within the spring, or within the fall when the climate is cool, however there are nonetheless sufficient freeze-free days predicted within the forecast for the vegetation to mature.

You may typically begin harvesting your ‘Winter Density’ in round 55 days, so plan accordingly.

This lettuce grows compact and upright, so you possibly can squeeze fairly just a few right into a small space.

From Seed

You may select to direct-sow ‘Winter Density’ seed into the backyard or if you wish to get a head begin, you can begin seeds indoors in containers for transplanting.

To direct sow seeds, put together your backyard mattress by working in loads of well-rotted compost.

I consider compost because the do-it-all soil modification. It aids water retention, provides vitamins, and improves drainage. Amending with compost could make sandy soil extra water-retentive and enhance drainage in clay.

Sow the seeds about 4 inches aside. Both place them on the highest of the soil or simply cowl them with an eighth of an inch of soil. The seeds want gentle to germinate, so don’t bury them too deep.

The problem is to maintain the seeds moist whilst you await them to germinate. When seeds sit on the highest of the soil, they have an inclination to dry out rapidly. Within the absence of rain, be sure to maintain the soil evenly moist.

When you want to begin seeds indoors, fill a seed tray with a seed-starting medium, and sow the seeds on the floor of the medium, and preserve it moist. It’s possible you’ll must mist them a few times a day to take care of adequate moisture.

The seeds want about six hours or extra of sunshine per day, so present supplemental lighting should you don’t have a spot with sufficient gentle to your indoor seeds.

You may transfer the seedlings outside once they have at the least two true leaves and as quickly because the soil could be labored.

‘Winter Density’ doesn’t thoughts slightly frost, however the soil can’t be too soggy and moist. Earlier than you transplant, harden the seedlings off a bit.

Hardening off is the method of step by step exposing the vegetation to the rising circumstances outside so that they aren’t shocked by the transition from the comfy indoor surroundings to the surface world.

Transplanting

Transplanting ‘Winter Density’ seedlings began indoors or bought from a nursery is fairly easy.

Put together the bottom as described above, then dig holes the identical depth and width because the containers the vegetation are at the moment rising in, spacing them 4 inches aside.

Gently take away every lettuce seedling from its container and thoroughly place it within the gap. Agency the soil up round it and water the soil properly.

Preserve the bottom moist however not waterlogged because the lettuce vegetation develop.

How one can Develop ‘Winter Density’ Lettuce

‘Winter Density’ does finest in full solar, although afternoon shade is ok as properly.

The truth is, should you reside in a area that may get a shock scorching spell in the course of the fall or spring, slightly afternoon shade generally is a good factor. I’ve been recognized to place umbrellas over my vegetation throughout sudden heatwaves.

It’s essential to maintain the soil moist and funky. Whereas ‘Winter Density’ received’t often bolt in heat climate, warmth could make the leaves bitter.

Any lettuce will bolt in an excessive amount of warmth, since they’re cool-weather vegetation, however this cultivar is a little more tolerant to heat than many different varieties.

Defending the roots with mulch will help stop bitterness and bolting. I wish to heap some straw round my lettuce vegetation to maintain the roots cool and assist the soil retain moisture.

Attempt to preserve the soil moist however not soaking moist. If the soil is soggy, it should result in issues like root rot. Permitting it to dry out may cause stunted development and hard, bitter leaves.

You may inform if in case you have the correct quantity of moisture by sticking your finger within the soil. It ought to really feel like a well-wrung-out sponge all the best way down.

If you add moisture, make sure to water at soil degree and check out to not splash water on the leaves. You may wish to use a soaker hose, which is right for irrigating lettuce.

When you labored in loads of compost at planting time, then there isn’t a want so as to add extra fertilizer.

Due to its compact development behavior, this cultivar additionally grows properly in container gardens or in spots the place you don’t have a ton of room.

You may be taught extra about rising lettuce in containers in our information.

Rising Ideas

• Plant in full solar or partial afternoon shade.
• Amend the soil with compost at planting time.
• Preserve the soil constantly moist.

Upkeep

Preserve weeds distant, particularly whereas your vegetation are younger. Weeds compete for water and vitamins and may smother seedlings. Additionally they act as hosts to pests and illness.

After which there are the dreaded slugs and snails. By far, these are the most typical pests I face every year.

I exploit pellets to manage them, however if you need some glorious suggestions and different administration strategies, go to our information.

I discover that when my vegetation get previous the seedling stage visiting pests received’t trouble them that a lot. If you wish to keep away from the entire downside altogether, use floating row covers.

‘Winter Density’ is immune to most fungal ailments, nevertheless it’s not resistant to something. Go to our information to lettuce ailments to be taught what to observe for.

Bacterial leaf spot, damping off, downy mildew, and lettuce mosaic virus are the main points it’s potential to come across.

Harvesting

Beginning at about 55 days, you possibly can harvest the heads as wanted.

You may go away the vegetation within the backyard so long as they don’t begin to bolt, so it’s finest to reap whenever you’re able to eat them and never sooner.

Whereas the heads retailer properly within the fridge for over per week, they’ll final even longer within the backyard.

The simplest option to harvest is to take a pointy knife and lower the plant at its base, as near the soil as you possibly can.

Once I want to reap a number of heads and I do know I received’t be capable to eat them abruptly, equivalent to when a heatwave or heavy snow is coming, I’ll dig down and take up among the roots with the plant.

Having some roots hooked up retains the pinnacle brisker for longer.

Preserving

Wrap the whole head in a paper towel or cotton material and retailer it within the crisper drawer of the fridge.

When you harvested the heads with some roots hooked up, wrap these in a moist paper towel.

The top ought to final for per week to 10 days with out the roots, and as much as two weeks with the roots intact.