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Head lettuce (iceberg, butterhead, romaine hearts) is more challenging than loose-leaf types because it requires very specific environmental conditions to form dense, marketable heads.
Unlike leaf lettuce, the crop must maintain optimal growth long enough to:
Small environmental swings can disrupt head formation.
Head lettuce is a cool-season crop.
Ideal temperature range:
When temperatures exceed ~75 °F:
Warm nights are especially problematic because plants cannot recover from daytime heat stress.
Bolting (premature flowering) is triggered by:
Once bolting begins:
Leaf lettuce tolerates heat better because it does not rely on tight head formation.
Yes. Head lettuce needs more space than leaf types.
If planted too closely:
Proper spacing allows leaves to fold inward and form dense heads.
Dense heads trap moisture, creating ideal conditions for disease.
Common issues include:
Poor airflow, overhead irrigation, and humid weather increase risk.
Tipburn is a calcium transport disorder, not a soil deficiency.
It occurs when:
Inner leaves die and rot, often making heads unmarketable.
Head lettuce has a narrow production window.
Plant too early:
Plant too late:
Successful production depends on aligning crop maturity with cool weather.
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