Lettuce Iceberg (50 Seed)

🔹 Common name ➜ Iceberg Lettuce, Crisphead Lettuce
🔹 Scientific name ➜ Lactuca sativa var. capitata
🔹 Type ➜ Salad & Leafy Vegetable crop 🌿
🔹 Use ➜ Salads, burgers, wraps, fresh consumption
✔️ Suitable for:
➜ Organic farming
➜ Natural farming
➜ Hydroponics & Polyhouse farming
➜ Exotic vegetable cultivation

🌟 Why Iceberg Lettuce?
✔️ High demand in fast food, cafes & hotels 📈
✔️ Crisp texture & high water content 💧
✔️ High market value & short crop cycle ⏱️
✔️ Great profit potential for commercial growers
✔️ Ideal for: ➜ Exotic vegetable farming
➜ Urban & vertical farming
➜ Small farmers & hydroponic growers

🌤️ Climate & Sowing Time 🇮🇳
India:
➜ Cool season crop ➜ November – Feburary ❄️
📍 Punjab / North India:
➜ Best sowing: • October – Feburary
✔️ Best temperature: ➜ 12–20°C
❌ Avoid temperatures above 25°C (causes bolting/bitterness)
🌾 Soil Requirement
➜ Best ➜ Well-drained sandy loam rich in organic matter
➜ pH ➜ 6.0–7.0
✔️ Suitable for: ➜ Organic farming
➜ Hydroponic substrates (Coco peat)

🌰 Seed Selection
➜ Recommended: • High-germination Iceberg seeds 🌱
• Open-pollinated
• Non-GMO coated/pelleted seeds
✔️ Benefits: ➜ Compact head formation
➜ Heat tolerance against early bolting
➜ Good crunch & shelf life

🌱 Sowing Method
➜ Nursery raising followed by transplanting
Seed rate: ➜ 100–150 grams per acre
Seed depth: ➜ 0.5–1 cm (shallow seed depth)
Transplanting: ➜ 20–25 days after sowing
Spacing:
➜ Row ➜ 30–40 cm
➜ Plant ➜ 30 cm
✔️ Helps: ➜ Proper head development
➜ Prevents overcrowding

🌿 Organic Fertilizer Plan
Before sowing/transplanting:
➜ FYM ➜ 8–10 ton/acre
➜ Vermicompost
During growth:
➜ Jeevamrit spray (every 10–12 days)
➜ Liquid seaweed extract
✔️ Improves: ➜ Leaf crispness
➜ Head weight & quality

💧 Irrigation
➜ Light & frequent irrigation required
Schedule: ➜ Every 4–6 days (shallow root system)
Critical stages: ➜ Head formation stage
❌ Avoid overhead watering during head stage (prevents rot)

🐛 Organic Pest Control
➜ Susceptible to aphids, thrips & slugs 🐛
If needed: ➜ Neem oil spray 🌿
➜ Yellow sticky traps for sucking pests
✔️ Suitable for: ➜ Chemical-free salad production

🌼 Head Formation & Maturity
➜ Starts forming compact heads ➜ 35–45 days after transplanting
➜ Leaves fold tightly to form a firm ball

🧺 Harvesting
➜ Ready in ➜ 60–75 days after transplanting
Harvest when: ➜ Head is firm, solid & compact
✔️ Cut head at soil surface level early in the morning

⏳ Crop Duration
➜ Total life ➜ 2.5–3 months
📦 Yield
➜ Average ➜ 60–80 quintal/acre
✔️ Premium pricing in urban markets 💰
🌱 Special Benefits
✔️ High dietary fiber & hydration
✔️ Fast turnaround time for quick field rotation
✔️ High suitability for controlled environment agriculture (CEA) 🌍
✔️ Best for: ➜ Hydroponic setups
➜ Contract farming for QSR chains

🪴 Growing Iceberg Lettuce on Roof
✔️ Possible
Container:
➜ Grow bag / Pot ➜ 8–10 inch (1 plant per container)
Notes:
➜ Requires partial afternoon shade in warm regions