Little Leprechaun Lettuce

Lettuce Little Leprechaun

Saqueta Individual

€1,50

A romaine lettuce with great visual appeal, featuring long, slender leaves in two tones: red-purple and light green.

About the variety. Little Leprechaun combines good looks and great flavour in a medium-sized plant, reaching around 20 cm. Its leaf structure allows two harvesting methods: leaf by leaf or cutting the whole head.

€1,50

Itinerário técnico

Como cultivar lettuce little leprechaun?

Um guia de cultivo passo a passo, da sementeira à colheita.

pH ideal 5.5 and 7Temperatura ideal 20 and 30°C

Sementeira

Started in trays, with seedlings to be transplanted to their final location 3 to 4 weeks later. The crop can be grown in rows, with 15 to 20 cm between plants and 45 to 60 cm between rows.

Solo

This crop adapts well to different soil types, though it is essential that they have good drainage capacity. Soil pH should be between 5.5 and 7.

Clima

The crop prefers temperatures between 20 and 30°C; however, temperatures should not be extreme, as they will lead to premature bolting.

Fertilização

Compost should be incorporated into the base fertilization to meet the crop's needs. It is important that the soil has phosphorus at the start of its development; if sufficient levels are not present in the soil even after incorporating compost, a mineral fertilizer rich in that nutrient should be added.

Rega

Watering should be done regularly, as the root system is not very deep. Drip irrigation is a great option for lettuce cultivation, as it prevents excessive moisture on the leaves and thus reduces the risk of disease.

Controlo de Infestantes

Mulching is an interesting option for lettuce cultivation, reducing competition between weeds and the crop.

Controlo de Pragas

Mites, aphids, leafminer larvae and root-knot nematodes are pests of this crop. Mites can be managed with biological control using predatory mites and, if necessary, the application of azadirachtin or sulphur dust (if T < 28°C). Aphids can be controlled through moderate fertilisation avoiding excess nitrogen, natural limitation with hedgerows at field margins to support beneficial insects, biological control with parasitoid and predatory Hymenoptera, and if necessary the application of potassium soap or azadirachtin. Leafminer larvae can be controlled through natural limitation with hedgerows and other vegetation with nectar-bearing plants to feed adult parasitoids, biological control with parasitoid Hymenoptera, and as a complementary measure the application of azadirachtin. Root-knot nematodes are controlled through crop rotation, biofumigation and soil solarisation.

Doenças

Alternaria leaf spot, sclerotinia, downy mildew and grey mould are diseases that affect this crop. To control alternaria, wide plant spacing and copper-based fungicides (such as Bordeaux mixture) should be used. To control sclerotinia, appropriate crop rotations and wider spacing should be implemented, and infected plants should be removed from the field as early as possible. Downy mildew can be controlled through crop rotations of at least 3 years, avoiding excess soil moisture and air humidity, using wide spacing and, if necessary, applying copper hydroxide at low concentrations (which should be lower the colder the weather, as it may risk scorching the leaves). Finally, grey mould should be controlled by removing diseased plant debris, avoiding excessive vigour, preventing water from settling on plants, and through regular application of bentonite clay.