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How to Grow: Lettuce is a cool-weather crop that thrives in the temperature range 60-65 degrees F, and if thoroughly hardened, most varieties survive temperatures as low as 20 degrees F. Cold-adapted varieties survive much lower temperatures. Seed germinates best at about 75 degrees F.
Should I cover my lettuce plants?
You can protect your cool season crops (including lettuce, which is more easily injured than other greens), by throwing a blanket or row cover over the plants. In zones 8 and 9, where tomatoes and peppers bearing fruit may still be in the ground, plants can easily be covered to protect the final harvest.
Can lettuce survive 34 degrees?
Lettuce is considered “hard frost hardy,” which means it can withstand frosts below 28 degrees. If the frost continues unabated, however, the cell walls may form ice, and the plant actually freezes.
How do you protect lettuce in cold weather?
Lettuce is tolerant of cold temperatures for short periods of time, although growth will slow down. To protect lettuce in frost prone areas, plant romaine or butterhead lettuce, which are the most cold-tolerant. When frost is predicted, cover the garden with sheets or towels to provide some protection.
Will lettuce grow in 50 degree weather?
Considered both a spring and fall crop, lettuce thrives when temperatures are between 60 to 70 degrees F. In fact, lettuce tastes sweetest in cool weather, which is why it is such a great fall crop.
At what temperature should I cover my vegetable garden?
Cover Plants – Protect plants from all but the hardest freeze (28°F for five hours) by covering them with sheets, towels, blankets, cardboard or a tarp. You can also invert baskets, coolers or any container with a solid bottom over plants. Cover plants before dark to trap warmer air.
What happens to lettuce when it freezes?
Related To: But for cooking and flavoring uses, yes, you can freeze lettuce. The reason you won’t be able to use the frozen lettuce to make salads is because the freezing process causes ice crystals to form in plant cells. When ice crystals form, they rupture cell walls.
How cold can tomatoes tolerate?
Low Temperatures Although tomato plants can survive temperatures down to 33 degrees Fahrenheit, they show problems when temperatures drop below 50 degrees F, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Research Service.
Can I plant lettuce in February?
Plant Cool-Weather Crops If you live in the South or Far West, you can plant cool weather vegetables such as spinach, peas, greens, onions, potatoes, lettuce, Swiss chard, beets, carrots, and radishes in your February garden.
Can you grow lettuce outdoors in winter?
Lettuces are one of my favorite vegetables to grow in the cold months. Most gardeners will end up planting them in a cold frame, greenhouse, or hoop house through the winter, but I think it’s so worth the extra trouble. I grow mine in a cold frame that husband extraordinaire made for me out of a huge glass door.
How cold can carrots tolerate?
1) Carrots Green carrot tops are hardy to at least 18 °F (-8 °C), but the roots can withstand even colder temperatures. To make harvests easier, either heavily mulch carrots when really cold temperatures arrive in zones 5 and above, or cover them with a low tunnel or cold frame.
When can lettuce be transplanted outside?
You should transplant lettuce outside after it has grown undercover for 4-6 weeks, and reached the height of 2-3 inches. The earliest time to do this is 3-4 weeks before the last frost, but you can transplant lettuce any time after that. Allow for 7-10 days of hardening off before moving outside.
What month do you plant lettuce?
Begin planting fall lettuce in late summer so it reaches maturity when the fall air is cool. Head lettuce is usually started indoors or in a cold frame and transplanted in the spring after the last frost date.
Will lettuce bolt in winter?
Lettuce loves growing in the garden during the cool season, be it spring in the US’s Midwest, or winter in coastal California. This vegetable will quickly start bolting in heat or any temperatures above 80 degrees. When it’s 80 degrees or more during the heat of the day, these vegetables just won’t thrive anymore.
Are tomato plants OK at 40 degrees?
Although mature plants might survive light frosts, temperatures below 40 F damage flower and fruit production, making tomatoes perennial only in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 12 and up. At temperatures below 55 F, pollen does not form properly. Above 95 F, the flowers abort and will not produce fruit.
Should I cover my plants at 32 degrees?
When Should You Cover Plants? Cover your plants at night and remove them during the day when the temperatures rise above 32 degrees F, so that the soil can warm up again. Some outdoor plants won’t survive the harsh conditions of winter, bring them inside and use these tips for caring for them through winter.
Will 40 degree weather hurt tomato plants?
A 40°F (or 4.444°C) temperature isn’t fatal to tomato plants. So, yes, your tomato plants will survive at 40°F temperature. In fact, tomato plants can survive temperatures down to 33 degrees Fahrenheit (or 0.5556°C). However, that doesn’t mean the plants will bloom and fruit optimally.
Why are watermelon and lettuce not suitable for freezing?
Lettuce, potatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, and apples all have a high water content, leading them to ice over in the freezer. When this ice melts upon defrosting, you’ll be left with some seriously unappetizing fruits and veggies.
How do you unfreeze lettuce?
Remove the bag of lettuce from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
How do I bring back frozen lettuce?
How to Revive Wilted Vegetables Trim Any Parts You Don’t Need. Cut away anything that is too wilted or not needed. Place the Produce in Ice Water. For most produce, you can submerge the food in a bucket or large bowl of ice water. Pat Dry. Use as You Normally Would.
How cold can cucumbers tolerate?
Protecting Cucumbers from Cold Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are tender annuals that thrive in warm temperatures of between 65-75 degrees F. (18-23 C.). Even prolonged exposure to temperatures below 55 degrees F.
How cold hardy are bell peppers?
Bell peppers are a perennial in tropical areas. But in colder climates, they are grown as annuals and they really have no tolerance for cold weather. They require a fairly long growing season, often up to 90 or even 100 days, so the shorter your summer, the sooner you need to start seeds indoors.
