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Greenhouse Lettuce and Herb Greenhouse Lettuce and Herb ProductionProduction

HOS 3222C & 6932Shubin K. Saha

Crop InformationCrop Information

Family Family AsteraceaeAsteraceae ((CompositaeCompositae))Growing conditions: 13Growing conditions: 13 -- 2828°° C (55C (55-- 8282°°Growing conditions: 13 Growing conditions: 13 2828 C (55C (55 8282F)F)Grown for vegetative tissue rather than Grown for vegetative tissue rather than seed bearing fruitseed bearing fruitFrom seed to harvest 35 From seed to harvest 35 -- 70 days70 daysC l f d SC l f d SCalifornia major producing region in US, California major producing region in US, other areas include Texas and Colorado, other areas include Texas and Colorado, FloridaFlorida

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Growing TypesGrowing Types

Butterhead Type (bibb) : loose headButterhead Type (bibb) : loose headButterhead Type (bibb) : loose head, Butterhead Type (bibb) : loose head, soft texture leaves, easily damaged in soft texture leaves, easily damaged in shippingshippingLoose leaf : nonheading varieties with Loose leaf : nonheading varieties with varied colors and texturesvaried colors and texturesMesclun mix: variety of loose leaf type Mesclun mix: variety of loose leaf type baby greensbaby greens

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Green leaf

Lollo rossa

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Lollo bionda

Oak leafOak leaf

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Mesclun

Baby Spinach

ArugulaArugula

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Endive

Radicchio

Endive

Radicchio

VarietiesVarieties

Select types suited to region of Select types suited to region of production, traits: nonproduction, traits: non--bolting, tipburnbolting, tipburnproduction, traits: nonproduction, traits: non bolting, tipburn bolting, tipburn resistant resistant Butterhead: Floribibb, Florida butter Butterhead: Floribibb, Florida butter crisp, Ermosa, Margarita, Red Rouge, crisp, Ermosa, Margarita, Red Rouge, Carmona, Ostinata, RexCarmona, Ostinata, RexLoose leaf: Red (New Redfire, Vulcan), Loose leaf: Red (New Redfire, Vulcan), Green (Two Star), Oakleaf green Green (Two Star), Oakleaf green (Saladbowl), Oakleaf red (Cerize)(Saladbowl), Oakleaf red (Cerize)

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Propagation: Transplants Propagation: Transplants

Substrate: soilless peat mix, perlite, Substrate: soilless peat mix, perlite, oasis, rockwool cubesoasis, rockwool cubesoasis, rockwool cubesoasis, rockwool cubesSeeds cost: $12.25 Seeds cost: $12.25 –– $17.30/1000 seeds $17.30/1000 seeds or $0.01 or $0.01 -- $0.02 per seed$0.02 per seedFloat systemFloat system-- Styrofoam flats floating on Styrofoam flats floating on water continuouslywater continuouslyEbb and floodEbb and flood-- similar to float systemsimilar to float systemOverhead irrigationOverhead irrigationPrimarily for butterhead and mature leaf Primarily for butterhead and mature leaf typestypes

Propagation: Direct SeedingPropagation: Direct Seeding

Primarily used for baby greens used inPrimarily used for baby greens used inPrimarily used for baby greens used in Primarily used for baby greens used in mesclun mixmesclun mixPerlite media commonly usedPerlite media commonly used

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Crop ProductionCrop Production

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Crop ProductionCrop Production

Greenhouse Structure: no need for high Greenhouse Structure: no need for high roof house as used in tomatoes or otherroof house as used in tomatoes or otherroof house as used in tomatoes or other roof house as used in tomatoes or other trellised vegetables. trellised vegetables. NFTNFT-- density: 18 plants/m2density: 18 plants/m2Float systemFloat system-- density: 38 plants/m2density: 38 plants/m2Ebb and FloodEbb and Flood-- density: 38 plants/m2density: 38 plants/m2

d 33 l / 2d 33 l / 2VertigroVertigro-- density: 33 plants/m2density: 33 plants/m2Trough culture: high density (baby Trough culture: high density (baby greens)greens)

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NutritionNutrition

pH: 5 5pH: 5 5 –– 6 06 0pH: 5.5 pH: 5.5 6.06.0EC: 1.3 EC: 1.3 –– 1.7 mS/cm1.7 mS/cmNitrogen Nitrogen -- 150 ppm150 ppmPhosphorus Phosphorus -- 40 ppm40 ppmPotassium Potassium -- 180 ppm 180 ppm Calcium Calcium –– 230 ppm230 ppmMagnesium Magnesium –– 30 ppm30 ppmIron Iron –– 5 ppm5 ppm

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HarvestingHarvesting

Hand harvestingHand harvestingHand harvestingHand harvestingWhole plant (butterhead and mature leaf Whole plant (butterhead and mature leaf types)types)Harvest with multiple cuttings of crop Harvest with multiple cuttings of crop (baby greens/mesclun)(baby greens/mesclun)(baby greens/mesclun)(baby greens/mesclun)Storage: 33Storage: 33°° -- 3838°° FF

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Pests/DiseasesPests/Diseases

AphidsAphidsAphidsAphidsThripsThripsWhitefliesWhitefliesPythium (dampingPythium (damping--off)off)Lettuce Mosaic VirusLettuce Mosaic VirusLettuce Mosaic Virus Lettuce Mosaic Virus TipburnTipburn

AphidsAphids

Feeding damage: yellowing and wilting reduceFeeding damage: yellowing and wilting reduceFeeding damage: yellowing and wilting, reduce Feeding damage: yellowing and wilting, reduce quality/marketabilityquality/marketabilityVirus vectorVirus vectorCultural tactics: sanitation, exclusionCultural tactics: sanitation, exclusionInsecticidal soapsInsecticidal soapsAphidius colemaniAphidius colemani (parasitic wasp, maintain with (parasitic wasp, maintain with banker plants and grain aphid)banker plants and grain aphid)

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Lettuce Mosaic Lettuce Mosaic VirusVirus

head formation defects, leaf distortions, and head formation defects, leaf distortions, and coloration changecoloration changeSeedborne and aphid vectoredSeedborne and aphid vectoredCertified tested seed (1 in 30,000 results inCertified tested seed (1 in 30,000 results inCertified tested seed (1 in 30,000 results in Certified tested seed (1 in 30,000 results in rejection via ELISA)rejection via ELISA)Management of vectorManagement of vector

TipburnTipburn

• Caused by high temperatures, rapid transpiration,

and calcium deficiency

• Select varieties resistant to tip burn

•Manage nutrients efficiently

•Cool nutrient solution

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HerbsHerbs

BasilBasilBasilBasilOreganoOreganoRosemaryRosemaryThymeThymeChivesChivesChivesChivesSageSageCilantroCilantro

Basil ProductionBasil Production

Ocimum basilicumOcimum basilicum (varying leaf and color(varying leaf and colorOcimum basilicum Ocimum basilicum (varying leaf and color (varying leaf and color types)types)Temperatures: 24Temperatures: 24°° –– 3030°° C (74C (74°° -- 8686°° F) F) day, 16day, 16°° –– 2020°° C (60C (60°° –– 6868°° F) nightF) nightNutrition similar to lettuceNutrition similar to lettuceNutrition similar to lettuceNutrition similar to lettuceTransplants utilizedTransplants utilizedProduction systems similar to lettuceProduction systems similar to lettuce

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Harvest and StorageHarvest and Storage

Hand harvestedHand harvestedHand harvestedHand harvestedStored and individually packed onsite in Stored and individually packed onsite in cool roomcool room

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http://aesop rutgers edu/~horteng/lettucehttp://aesop rutgers edu/~horteng/lettucehttp://aesop.rutgers.edu/~horteng/lettucehttp://aesop.rutgers.edu/~horteng/lettuce_production.htm_production.htm