Archival copy: for current recommendations see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu or your local extension office. Chapter 12. 2012-2013 HS728 Lettuce, Endive, and Escarole Production in Florida B.M. Santos, P.J. Dittmar, R.N. Raid and S.E. Webb BOTANY For organic soils, band all P2O5 3 to 4 inches beneath rows in the bed. Broadcast all K2O and micronutrients. Nomenclature About 50 lbs/A of supplemental N might be needed during Family - Asteraceae (Compositae) cool, winter weather, or after leaching rain. Soil test results Lettuce - Lactuca sativa and fertilizer recommendations for lettuce, endive, and Endive - Cichorium endiva escarole on Histosol soils are given in Table 4. Escarole - Cichorium endiva Origin PLANT TISSUE ANALYSIS Lettuce is native to the eastern Mediterranean basin. Endive is believed to have originated in Egypt. Plant tissue analysis information for lettuce, endive and escarole is given in Table 5. The analysis was done at the Related Species 8-leaf stage, using the oldest undamaged leaf. Other vegetable crops in the Asteraceae family are globe artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke, radicchio, witloof chicory, salsify, cardoon, and dandelion. Table 1. Lettuce, endive and escarole varieties for commercial and local production. VARIETIES Type Variety Crop varieties for commercial production are shown in Lettuce Table 1. Crisphead Gator Raleigh Gulfstream SEEDING AND PLANTING Romaine (green) Concept Terrapin Kalura Snappy Planting dates and seeding information are given in Medallion Table 2. Romaine (red) Outredeous Rosalita Green Leaf Green Saladbowl Tropicana FERTILIZER AND LIME Green Star Two Star On mineral soils with subsurface or sprinkler irrigation Red Leaf Galactic Red Saladbowl and no mulch, broadcast all P2O5, micronutrients and 25 New Red Fire Vulcan to 50% of N and K2O in bed. Band remaining N and K2O Oakleaf (green) Royal Oak in one or two applications during middle growth period. For mulched crops with subsurface irrigation, broadcast all Oakleaf (red) Ferrari P2O5, micronutrients, and 20 to 25% of N and K2O in bed. Summer Crisp (red) Cherokee Band remaining N and K2O in grooves in bed surface (one Boston Florida Butter Crisp Margarita band for twin row beds). For mulched, drip-irrigated crops, Ermosa incorporate all P2O5, micronutrients and up to 20 to 25% of N and K2O in bed. Inject remaining N and K2O according Bibb Floribibb to schedules in circular 1181 (Fla. Coop. Ext. Serv.). Soil Endive Frisan Salad King test and fertilizer recommendations for lettuce, endive and Marcant escarole on mineral soils are given in Table 3. Escarole Full Heart NR 65 Twinkle Page 143 This document is HS710, Horticultural Sciences Dept., UF/IFAS, Fla. Coop. Ext. Serv., January 2012 Archival copy: for current recommendations see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu or your local extension office. Page 144 Vegetable Production Handbook IRRIGATION For protected agriculture production see http://www. hos.ufl.edu/protectedag or http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/ Crops in the lettuce group require consistent levels of SantosHortProgram/International.htm. water for ET (see Chapter 3, Principles and Practices of Irrigation Management for Vegetables, Tables 4 to 6) near Nutrient solution formulation for hydroponic (perlite, reference demand levels (see Chapter 3, Table 3) throughout rockwool, NFT) tomatoes in Florida (http://edis.ifas.ufl. the rapid growth and final development periods. Reductions edu/CV216). in available water during these growth periods can result in reduced leaf development. Root systems may be very shal- Design suggestions and greenhouse management for low, thus requiring frequent, steady applications of water vegetable production in perlite and rockwool media in during low rainfall, high demand periods. Florida (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/CV195). Keys to successful tomato and cucumber production in HYDROPONIC PRODUCTION perlite media (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS169). Lettuce production in small growing units is increasing becoming popular alternative for home and community WEED MANAGEMENT gardens around the state. In most cases, the crop is grown hydroponically with diverse soilless media in vertical Herbicides labeled for weed control in lettuce, endive staked pot or horizontal trough systems. The most common and escarole are listed in Table 6. soilless media are perlite and coconut coir, which could be used pure or in mixed proportions of each. Some of the advantages of using these media are: a) reduced soilborne disease incidence and thus no need for soil fumigation/dis- DISEASE MANAGEMENT infection; b) increased nutrient and water retention capac- ity in comparison with sandy and loamy soils; c) possibil- Chemicals approved for disease management are listed ity for reusing the media over multiple seasons. Among the as follows: disadvantages of these are: a) relatively elevated cost of Lettuce - Table 7 production, and b) potential for initial nitrogen sequestra- Endive and Escarole - Table 8. tion when using new batches of coconut coir due to an ele- vated carbon:nitrogen ratio. There are diverse hydroponic fertilizer solutions that could be used to produce lettuce and growers and home owners willing to adopt this system INSECT MANAGEMENT should consult publications similar to the ones presented Insecticides approved for use on insects attacking let- below. tuce, endive and escarole are listed in Table 9. Table 2. Seeding and planting information for lettuce, endive, and escarole. Planting dates Crisphead Butterhead Romaine Endive Escarole North Florida Sept - Oct; Sept - Oct; Aug - Oct; Aug - Oct; Aug - Oct; Jan - Feb Jan - Feb Jan - Feb Jan - Feb Jan - Feb Central Florida Sept - Feb Sept - Feb Aug - Feb Aug - Feb Aug - Feb South Florida Sept - Feb Sept - Feb Sept - Mar Sept - Mar Sept - Mar Seeding information Distance between rows (in) 18 - 30 18 - 30 18 - 30 18 - 30 18 - 30 Distance between plants (in) 8 - 12 9 12 14-16 14-16 Seeding depth (in) 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 Seed per acre (lb) 1-3 1-3 2-4 3-4 3-4 Days to maturity from seed1 70 - 95 60 - 80 60 - 80 60-80 60-80 Plant populations2 (acre) 43,560 38,720 29,040 24,891 24,891 1 These crops also can be transplanted and achieve faster maturity. 2 Populations based on closest between and within row spacing. Archival copy: for current recommendations see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu or your local extension office. Chapter 12: Lettuce, Endive, Escarole Production in Florida Page 145 Table 3. Soil test and fertilizer recommendations for lettuce, endive, and escarole on 4-foot beds on mineral soils.1 VL L M H VH VL L M H VH 2 P2O5 K2O Target pH N lb/A2 (lb/A/crop season) Crisphead lettuce 6.5 200 150 120 100 0 0 150 120 100 0 0 Leaf lettuce 6.5 150 150 120 100 0 0 150 120 100 0 0 Endive, Escarole, Romaine 6.5 200 150 120 100 0 0 150 120 100 0 0 1 See Chapter 2 section on supplemental fertilizer application and best management practices, pg 11. 2 Seeds and transplants may benefit from applications of a starter solution at a rate no greater than 10 to 15 lbs/acre for N and P2O5, and applied through the plant hole or near the seeds. Table 4. Soil test and fertilizer recommendations for crisphead and leaf lettuce, endive, escarole, and romaine on Histosols. Target pH = 6.0 and N rate = 0 lb/A for all crops. P and K index and fertilizer rates P index 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 P2O5 (lb/A) 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 0 0 K index 50 80 110 140 170 200 K2O (lb/A) 200 140 80 50 0 0 Table 5. Plant tissue analysis at 8-leaf stage for lettuce, endive, escarole, and romaine. Dry wt. basis. N P K Ca Mg S Fe Mn Zn B Cu Mo Status Percent Parts per million Crisphead Deficient <4.0 0.4 5.0 0.8 0.3 0.3 50 20 25 15 5 0.1 Adequate range 4.0 -5.0 0.4 -0.6 5.0 -7.0 0.8 -2.0 0.3 -0.5 0.3 -0.8 50 -150 20 -40 25 -50 15 -30 5 -10 0.1 -0.4 High >5 0.6 7.0 2.0 0.5 0.8 150 40 50 30 10 0.4 Endive Deficient <4.5 0.45 4.5 0.8 0.25 0.3 50 15 30 25 5 0.1 Adequate range 4.5 - 6.0 0.45-0.8 4.5 -6.0 0.8 - 4.0 0.25 -0.60 0.3 -0.8 50 - 150 15 -25 30 -50 25 -35 5 - 10 0.1 -0.4 High >6.0 0.8 6.0 4.0 0.6 0.8 150 25 50 35 10 0.4 Escarole Deficient <4.2 0.45 5.7 0.8 0.25 0.3 50 15 30 20 4 0.1 Adequate range 4.2 - 5.0 0.45 -0.6 5.7 -6.5 0.8 -2.2 0.25 -0.35 0.3 -0.8 50 -150 15 -25 30 -50 20 -30 4 - 6 0.1 -0.4 High >5.0 0.6 6.5 2.2 0.35 0.8 150 25 50 30 6 0.4 Romaine Deficient <5.0 0.35 5.0 0.8 0.25 0.3 50 15 20 30 5 0.1 Adequate range 5.0 - 6.0 0.35-0.8 5.0 -6.0 0.8 -3.0 0.25 -0.35 0.3 -0.8 50 -150 15 -25 20 -50 30 -45 5 -10 0.1 -0.4 High >6.0 0.8 6.0 3.0 0.35 0.8 150 25 50 45 10 0.4 Archival copy: for current recommendations see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu or your local extension office.