Lettuce is a great crop for year-round greenhouse production, particularly in northern latitudes. Lettuce is a low-light, low-temperature crop, so supplemental lighting and heating costs can be kept to a minimum. Lettuce is also a perishable crop, giving local growers who pick fresh and deliver daily a competitive advantage.
The Best Hydroponic System for Growing Lettuce
By far the most popular hydroponic system for lettuce production is the nutrient film technique (NFT) system. The lettuce is placed in plastic gullies, usually between 2.5- and 6-in. wide, and a thin film of nutrient solution trickles over the bare roots. The nutrient solution is stored in a reservoir, and a submersible pump pumps the solution to the far end of the gullies. The gullies are placed at a slight slope so the nutrient solution flows down the gullies to be collected at the other end and returned to the reservoir.
The system then recirculates the nutrient solution over and over again. Since the nutrient solution is flowing in a thin film, aeration at the root zone is optimal, and since the reservoir is in a closed system, it is possible to capture, clean and reuse the nutrient solution for maximum efficiency. Only a fraction of the water and nutrients required for field production is necessary, and there is little or no runoff of concentrated fertiliser salts to pollute the environment.
Germinating Lettuce Seeds
No bottom heat is required to germinate lettuce seeds. Lettuces are cool weather crops, so excessive heat can actually delay or prevent germination. Simply cover a tray of starter cubes with a plastic sheet or humidity dome, place under cool fluorescent lights and wait a few days for germination. Once the roots begin to poke out through the bottom of the cubes, they are ready for transplanting into the NFT system.
Best Artificial Lighting for Lettuce
In northern climates, prolonged periods of short, overcast days can dramatically slow down growth rates of lettuce. Therefore, the judicious use of horticultural grow lights is often recommended. Plants need full-spectrum light, with both the blue and red ends of the spectrum for vigorous growth. During the vegetative growth stage, plants prefer the blue end of the spectrum. Blue light at the 460-nm wavelength greatly influences phototropism the tendency of plants to lean toward the light. If plants receive enough blue light in the 460-nm range, they tend to have a more compact growth habit.
Also, blue is responsible for chlorophyll production more than other wavelengths. Metal halide grow lights are full-spectrum lamps, rich in the blue end of the spectrum, and they are well-suited for lettuce production. Advances in LED technology are also proving beneficial for indoor lettuce production.
Ideal Temperature for Growing Winter Lettuce
Some growers like to warm their nutrient solution in the winter, especially in NFT systems, in which water is continuously circulating over the roots. By holding the root temperature at about 75°F, it is often possible to lower air temperatures without sacrificing quality or yield. Since fuel costs for greenhouse temperature control can become significant in the winter, heating the nutrient solution can save production costs. Just make sure the nutrient temperature does not exceed 78°F. The warmer the water, the less dissolved oxygen the water can hold, setting up anaerobic conditions that can promote root rot.
The Right Nutrients for Growing Winter Lettuce
Since lettuce is a vegetative crop, a well-balanced grow formula is all that is necessary to produce a high-quality crop. Grow formulas are proportionately higher in nitrogen than bloom formulas, usually with an N-P-K ratio of about 3-1-5. ph. The nitrate form of nitrogen is usually preferred, with no more than about 3-10% of the available nitrogen in the ammonium form. Ammonium ions are rapidly taken up and used by lettuce plants for fast vegetative growth, but too much ammonium nitrogen results in “rank” growth, producing soft, weak tissue with poor shelf life.
Nitrate nitrogen is used more slowly by the plant, producing stronger, healthier lettuce plants.
Amino acid blends may also be beneficial in a complete nutrition program for lettuce. Amino acids are intermediate chelators, improving the availability of calcium and other important cations to plants.
When phosphoric acid is added to hard water, the bicarbonates are burned off as carbon dioxide and water, but the calcium ions react to form calcium phosphate. Calcium phosphate is what bone is made of, and it is 95% water insoluble, so calcium phosphate locks up both calcium and phosphate, making them unavailable to the plant. When amino acids are added, however, the calcium remains available. Primary amino acid chelators such as glutamic acid and glycine attach to the calcium ions like a claw, preventing them from reacting with the phosphorous. At the same time, glutamic acid and glycine stimulate root cells to open up calcium ion channels, taking up calcium thousands to millions of times faster than simple osmosis. Inside the plant, the calcium is used to strengthen the cell walls and help protect the lettuce from temperature stress, pathogen attacks and common physiological diseases such as tip burn.
Water Quality and EC
Unlike tomatoes and other fruiting crops, which can handle high levels of nutrient salts, lettuce has a low salt tolerance, so using a clean, slightly soft water source with relatively low levels of minerals and low levels of sodium is beneficial. During the summer months, the total EC of the nutrient solution should be maintained at 10 cf or below. During the winter months, with lower light levels, the EC should be raised a little to help prevent stretching, but the grower should still try not to exceed a total cf of 12. By starting with raw water with a 2-4 cf and adding only a mild nutrient formula, a good balance can be maintained between fast growth and top quality.
Why Hydroponic Winter Lettuce?
When a complete nutrition program is followed for lettuce production, including both mineral and organic components, it is possible to produce a consistently superior product. Colour, texture, and flavour can be enhanced, with the added benefit of improved vitamin and mineral content.
An objective measurement of how well your plants are taking up water and minerals can be obtained by using a brix refractometer—an instrument that measures the sugars and dissolved solids in the sap. But many experienced chefs and produce buyers can detect superior quality simply by looking at it. For example, the best romaines have a thin ribbon of gold on the edge of the leaves, and they should have complex flavours including sweet, bitter and peppery overtones. Once your nutrient solution management program is developed and fine-tuned, a foundation can be laid for a continual harvest of gourmet-quality produce.