Gunnison news-champion., 1922-06-30
MORE ABOUT THE CULTURE
OF HEAD LETTUCE
lBy HI. Bunger, Field Man, Colorado
Co-OpeFatlye Lettuce Associaiion.l
Getting ! stand

NcillhE 4 NlLhu
Due 10 the winds and no. weather
much OF the later planted lettuce has
faded % geruIuaJe- This Is due 70
sufficient moisture IN the surface OF
the ground IN which the seed lies.
There Is probably plenty Of moisture
underneath the surface OF the ground
a fess inches, bat II Is rot enough 70
start the seed 70 geminate-
The best remedy for this Is to give
The ground . thoro irrigation. Jus,
running water across the field is not
sufficient, as Il will not soak over 70
where the seed is and II i does, IL
will probably start the seed to germ
mating and then the ground will dry
out and the tiny plant will die.
The best method Is 10 soak the
ground thorOIy so that all the surface
shows signs Of moisture.
On the experimental! plot some OF
the seed failed t1 come up and the
ground was irrigated thoroly and the
lettuce is coming up iine IN every
place except where the ground was
not wet 20 the degree that there was
no dry dirt showing on top.
II the ground Is sandy It should be
kept wet until the lettuce is up, or the
seed will be killed, due TO being We;
and then drying out.
Cultivation
A. soo1 as the lettuce is up, the
ground that has been irrigated should
be given n light cultivation TO keep
the ground from baking or drying
out too fast. this viii also kill the
weeds that the subsequent irrigation
will start
One cultivation will be plenty until
the lettuce Is ready to thin.
Thinning
Head lettuce should be thinned
when It forms the fourth leaf. II
the stand is very thick the lettuce
should be thinned before il starts 70
spindle or grow tall. This leaves .
very weak plant when others are pull
ed from ii and also leaves growing
part Of the plant or heart high in the
air. Winds and rain are liable TO in
jurc the plant.
The thinning distances should VAR
according TO the richness and mois-
ture content of the soil. Soil thai
dries out rapidly should have plant
farther apart than on soil that
holds moisture well. From ~ TO 16
inches seems to be the most widely
used distances, but on some ground 4
closer distance would be advisable.
Experiments are being made as 10
thinning distances and records are
being kept of the success of each.
II would be good plan il ever
grower would try little experiment
alton on the thinning distances and
in this manner he would learn just
what distances his own soil requires,
besides gaining knowledge that would
prove beneficial 10 others.
Irrigation and Cultivation
Head lettuce does not require an
over-supply of moisture, but the soil
should not dry out. 1t is advisable
to practice more cultivation and less
irrigation.
Sandy ground viii require more ir-
rigation than the heavier soils. The
ground should never be let to set and
bake after an irrigation, but should
be stirred thoroly. This prevents the
ground from drying out too fast and
opens up the soil so that air can get
into the roots of the plant Irriga-
ton tends TO puddle the soil or TO
bring the soil particles closer together
and this is detrimental TO the plant
growth.
Deep cultivation is not necessary all
the time, but when the plants are
young, a good, deep cultivation is all
right, but after the plants attain
much size, il is best to just keep the
top of the ground cultivated.
R.mady For Cut Warns