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Lettuce originated in the Mediterranean area and was first grown as a weed. The first documentation of cultivation begins in Ancient Egypt over 6,000 years ago, but it may have been cultivated in the Middle East prior to this. Ancient Egyptian artwork, especially tomb paintings, depicts different varieties of lettuce.
Does lettuce grow naturally?
Wild lettuce It is often found growing on roadsides, wood edges or on disturbed soil. This is one of the most common types of wild lettuce to find and is a native plant. It is a winter annual, which means seeds germinate in late summer or early fall and grow to bloom next year.
Does lettuce grow wild?
It is a native of Europe, not North America. Officially grows wild in six places in the United States: One county in Alabama, Washington DC, and four counties in California. It could be more wide-spread that that.
Where does wild lettuce plant grow?
Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) is grown in various areas of the world, including Iran, Austria, France, Germany, and Scotland. This herb thrives in sunny locations, such as along riverbanks and roadsides, and it can grow up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in height.
What climate does lettuce grow in?
Lettuce is adapted to cool growing conditions with the optimum temperatures for growth of 60 to 65°F. At 70 to 80°F, the plants flower and produce seed. Lettuce can tolerate a few days of temperatures from 80 to 85°F, provided that nights are cool.
Where is lettuce grown in the US?
More than 90 percent of U.S. lettuce production is located in California and Arizona. The main varieties include iceberg, romaine and various leaf varieties. Lettuce production occurs year-round throughout the United States, through a sequence of production in Arizona and California.
What continent is lettuce native to?
Wild lettuce is now widely scattered over the globe, but it originated in inner Asia Minor, the trans-Caucasus, Iran, and Turkistan.
Where does wild lettuce grow in North America?
Lactuca canadensis is a species of wild lettuce known by the common names Canada lettuce, Canada wild lettuce, tall lettuce, and Florida blue lettuce. Its true native range is not clear, but it is considered to be a native of the eastern and central parts of North America.
Does wild lettuce grow in New York state?
The plants flower in July and August and mature fruits develop August through mid-October. The time of year you would expect to find Woodland Lettuce flowering and fruiting in New York.
Where does wild lettuce grow in Canada?
It occurs across the continental United States, except for Nevada and Arizona, and across most provinces in Canada. It is found commonly in all counties in Illinois. It grows in moist to dry habitats in a variety of soil types, include black soil, clay, and gravel prairies.
Does wild lettuce grow in Florida?
Florida lettuce, or woodland lettuce, is an annual or biennial with open, branched clusters of bluish flowers. Flowerheads with up to 17 florets per head. Wild lettuce (L. canadensis) has orangish flowers; its leaves do not clasp the stems and are either entire (unlobed) without prickles or deeply lobed with prickles.
Does wild lettuce grow in Minnesota?
Notes: This is a highly variable species, particularly in leaf shape. In some references, these various shapes are treated as separate varieties but they are not recognized in Minnesota. Wild Lettuce grows in a variety of conditions, from shady, moist woods to dry, gravelly roadsides.
Is lettuce in the sunflower family?
Lactuca sativa is a member of the Lactuca (lettuce) genus and the Asteraceae (sunflower or aster) family.
Can lettuce grow in tropical climate?
Unfortunately lettuce is NOT a tropical plant! In the tropics you can only grow lettuce during the cooler months.
Does lettuce grow in hot weather?
Lettuce grows best in a temperature range of about 45 to 75 degrees. In weather hotter than this, the leaves begin to get bitter to the taste. When leaf lettuce bolts—begins to send up its flower shoots—it’s a signal that the production of edible lettuce is done for the season.
Does lettuce grow well in full sun?
The ideal lettuce growing location for spring and fall is in a spot that receives full sun. If you plan on growing lettuce during the summer or in warm planting zones, partial shade can provide protection from the heat.
Why is lettuce grown in California?
Lettuce is produced year-round in California, but this crop does demand good weather. Ideal conditions for leafy green crops are high temperatures in the 60s or 70s and lows in the 40s. Because of this, the Central Coast is a huge growing region that produces lettuce between the months of April and November.
Where does lettuce grow in California?
The major production areas for leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in California are the Central Coast (Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Luis Obispo Counties), the southern coast (Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties), the Central Valley (Fresno, Kings, and Kern Counties), and the southern deserts (.
Where is the lettuce capital of the world?
Yuma lies in the Sonora Desert, framed by rugged mountains, irrigated by the Colorado River, and flooded with sunshine almost every day of the year. Known as the Winter Lettuce Capital of the World, Yuma produces the majority of the fresh lettuces you eat during the winter.
Does wild lettuce grow in Illinois?
Range & Habitat: The native Wild Lettuce is a common plant that occurs in almost all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map). This plant is more common in degraded prairies and disturbed habitats, although it can also be found in high-quality habitats.
Where is spinach native to?
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a hardy annual related to beets and Swiss chard that has been used by humans for a long time. Native to southwest Asia, it was first cultivated in Persia (Iran) over 2000 years ago and used by the Chinese in the 6th century.
Where is cabbage native to?
Brassica oleracea is a plant species that includes many common cultivars, such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, Savoy cabbage, kohlrabi, and gai lan. In its uncultivated form, it is called wild cabbage and is native to coastal southern and western Europe.
