How to grow iceberg lettuce at home?

It is possible to grow iceberg lettuce in the country both in the greenhouse and in the open field, and in winter it is really possible to delight yourself with tasty and healthy greens, cultivating it at home on the windowsill. Agricultural technology, in this case, is quite simple, but it can raise many questions. However, if you follow all the recommendations on agricultural technology, then the results will not be long in coming.

Growing greens in a greenhouse

Since head salads do not like too high temperatures, the cultivation of iceberg lettuce in the country in a greenhouse is recommended only in late autumn, early spring, or in winter if there is a heated greenhouse.

In general, lettuce is a cold-resistant plant, but it is necessary to sow seeds when there is no threat of severe frosts. It is optimal that the temperature inside the greenhouse does not fall below 40C. Immediately before planting, the ground in the greenhouse should be prepared - thoroughly dug up, adding humus and mineral fertilizers. In addition, it is worth considering that lettuce does not tolerate acidic soils. Therefore, with increased acidity of the soil, it is necessary to lower it. This can be done by bringing ash and lime into the ground. But in this case, you need to be careful with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, since cabbage salads are nitrate accumulators.

Video about growing greens in a winter greenhouse

Before sowing, you will also have to loosen the soil, removing all large earthy clods and stones from it, which will impede germination. It is recommended to soak the seeds for a day before planting, which has a positive effect on the appearance of sprouts. Sowing seeds is carried out to a depth of about 1 cm, the distance between rows is 30-40 cm. The planting site must be thoroughly watered and covered with agrofibre or film to retain moisture. Periodically, before the emergence of seedlings, the covering material should be removed in order to ventilate. These measures are prevention against powdery mildew and rotting of a young plant. After the emergence of seedlings in the greenhouse, the planting must be thinned out, leaving one plant every 30 cm.

In order for the iceberg salad to be able to tie into heads of cabbage and gain enough weight, it is recommended to carry out the following care steps for the plants:

• Timely watering. Cabbage salads do not tolerate drought well, so you need to carefully monitor that the soil is always moist. Watering can be reduced after the heads of cabbage have set.
• Loosening. The first loosening and removal of the earth crust is carried out after three weeks from the moment of sowing the seeds. Further, the soil should be loosened after each watering, which will avoid rotting of the plant roots.
• Weed removal.

After the emergence of seedlings in the greenhouse, planting must be thinned out

• Top dressing. It is worthwhile to regularly apply complex fertilizers during cultivation, which will allow the plant to receive sufficient amounts of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and nitrogen.

The ripening period of iceberg lettuce is 45-80 days from the moment of sowing the seeds.

Outdoor cultivation

Growing salad in the country in the open field is possible with seeds or seedlings. Planting seeds in open ground and further caring for plants is exactly the same as when cultivating lettuce in a greenhouse. As for the seedlings, then it is worth adhering to certain recommendations.

Since the head lettuce does not tolerate transplants, the agricultural technology of its seedlings is carried out in peat tablets, which should be purchased in sufficient quantities in a specialized store. Each tablet contains 2-3 seeds. In order not to be puzzled by the preliminary preparation of seed material for sowing, you can take yeast seeds that have a shell from a complex of fertilizers. After all the peat tablets are filled, they are placed in a container, which is left in a room with a temperature not exceeding 180C. As a rule, germination does not take much time, seedlings appear as early as 4-5 days.

Before transferring the seedlings to the site, it is necessary to harden it.

Further cultivation can be carried out at home, where the temperature is higher, but not higher than 250C. That is, in general, containers with plants can be placed on a windowsill or on an unheated balcony. The most suitable for planting in open ground will be seedlings with a height of 8-10 cm, which corresponds to 4-5 leaves. Usually, iceberg lettuce grows to this state in 8-9 weeks. But in this form, plants can be planted in early spring, when there is no too much heat outside, but the soil has already thawed and the threat of frost has passed. Closer to summer, you should pay attention to smaller seedlings, the growth period of which is about 3 weeks, which will allow the lettuce to better transfer the transplant to open ground, as well as optimize for new conditions and high ambient temperatures.

Before transferring the seedlings to the site, it is necessary to harden it. For this, containers with seedlings are taken out for a couple of days in the open air. The shoots are planted on a well-dug garden bed, into which fertilizer and humus have been applied. The transfer is carried out in the same way as when growing iceberg lettuce in a greenhouse. If young plants are planted early enough, then they are covered with agrofibre or perforated film. Covering material is removed after approximately four weeks. But it is necessary to ensure that the temperature under the film does not rise above 250C, as this will negatively affect the formation of the head, and its cultivation will be very difficult.

Planting shoots is carried out on a well-dug garden bed

Plant care is the same as when growing in a greenhouse. Those. cultivation of lettuce outdoors requires watering, loosening, weeding and feeding. If you do not forget to carry out the simplest care for the salad, then soon you will be able to feast on the delicious, crispy leaves of this magnificent plant. It is necessary to remove the salad in the early morning, when the sun has not yet dried the dew drops, then the salad will remain juicy and tasty for a long time.

Growing iceberg lettuce at home

You can also grow iceberg lettuce at home, "breaking" a green garden on the balcony or windowsill. In order to get a harvest of greenery at home, you will first have to take care of containers and soil. Only roomy pots or trays, the approximate size of which is 60x60 cm, are suitable as containers. Do not take smaller ones, since cabbage salads have a well-developed root system, for the correct growth of which a significant volume is required.

Video about growing lettuce, varieties, seedlings, planting and care

Soil mixture for planting is easy to purchase in a specialty store, or you can make it yourself at home. In the second case, it is necessary to take in equal parts humus, sod land, and sand, mix everything thoroughly and apply potash fertilizers.

Soak the most suitable iceberg lettuce seeds in room temperature water for a day. Then drain the water, let the seeds dry out a little and only then plant them in prepared containers with soil. The salad is planted at home to a depth of 0.5 cm, the distance between adjacent plants is at least 12 cm. After sowing the seed material, the soil in the container is watered with water at room temperature and removed to a dark, cool place. After the emergence of shoots, it is strongly recommended to rearrange the containers to a permanent place, but window sills on the south side should be avoided, as direct sunlight can burn the delicate leaves. The main care for the salad at home is timely watering, loosening, prolongation of daylight hours up to 10-12 hours by additional lighting. This will allow you to achieve decent results and delight yourself and your loved ones with greenery throughout the winter. As you can see, growing a salad at home is as easy as growing mint and other spices.

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Salads are popular nowadays. One of them is Iceberg salad. This healthy product with low calorie content attracts with its calm, neutral taste. It goes well with any sauces. At the same time, its resistance to low temperatures, unpretentiousness when growing in the country and its decorative appearance attracts many summer residents.

Description and origin of iceberg lettuce

Iceberg lettuce is an early crop, ripening period 50-90 days, refers to cabbage salads. Outwardly, it resembles an early, white cabbage. A rosette of light green leaves with a carved border forms a small head of cabbage 300-600 gr.

In terms of taste, it is similar to Chinese cabbage, but differs in juicy and crunchy leaves. These properties are also attractive in the preparation of cold appetizers and in the design of dishes.

The plant has gained its distribution throughout the world thanks to American breeders. They received culture at the beginning of the twentieth century. It is currently grown commercially. It was originally called "crispy salad". After that, his taste was appreciated.

The average weight of iceberg lettuce heads is 300-600 grams

Farmers used the "ice cushion" to preserve the harvest. The heads of cabbage laid in boxes were sprinkled with ice cubes. As a result, the word "ice" (ice) caught on the plant, which then transformed into "iceberg".

Recommendations before sowing in the country

1. Culture prefers loamy or sandy loamy, neutral soils... Therefore, to reduce acidity, dolomite flour, wood ash or limestone are first introduced into the ground.
2. For the prevention of plant diseases, planting is carried out in accordance with the requirements for crop rotation. It is advisable that cabbage, potatoes, onions or cereals grow in the beds last year.
3. Lettuce is a crop that can accumulate nitrates in its leaves. Therefore, nitrate fertilizers should be applied with caution. It is better to fertilize with humus, compost before planting, or with manure in the fall.
4. Early ripening and decorative appearance allows you to grow not only as a monoculture in a separate bed. You can also grow together with potatoes, onions, carrots or between the rows of courgettes, cucumbers. While these crops are growing and gaining strength, the salad will have time to ripen. A spectacular look with carved leaves is used in decorating flower beds.
5. Choose sunny or partial shade.
6. Culture cold-resistant and can withstand frosts up to -2 -6 degrees. Growth begins at +5 degrees. And the optimal one for active growth is + 18 + 25 degrees.
7. To increase the harvest period, you can sow in several stages, every 10-14 days.
8. Seeds, a day before sowing, are recommended to germinate in a damp tissue.

Agricultural technology of planting and growing by seeds

Sowing seeds in open ground

In the first half of April, a garden bed is prepared. Well loosened and covered with a covering material so that the earth warms up. When temperatures above zero were established, late April, early May rows 3 cm deep are made on the garden bed, after 40 cm. The earth is compacted and spilled with water. Seeds are sown at a distance of 20-30 cm and covered with 1 cm of soil.

Iceberg lettuce seeds

If the seeds are not zoned or there is no confidence in their quality, sowing, preferably, thicken. In the case of good shoots, planting can be thinned out or transplanted to a new place.

Coming covered with foil... Shoots should be expected in 6-14 days. The lower the temperature, the longer the shoots will take.

Sowing seedlings

Better to use peat or plastic cups... When transplanted into open ground, the root structure is not disturbed, and the culture takes root faster.

The soil is used from the store or from the site, from the place of future planting. The soil in the cups is slightly compacted and sown 2-3 seeds each, covered with 1 cm from above. Spill with water and cover with a film to retain moisture and heat.

The temperature is maintained for 4-5 days before germination. + 16 + 17 degrees, then you can raise up to +25 degrees... After 3-4 weeks, in mid-May, when the plant has 4-5 main leaves, they are transplanted into open ground.

Seedlings must be hardened 3-5 days before the planned transplant. Carry out during the day from the house to the street in partial shade, in a quiet place, without wind and drafts. May get burned in sunny places.

3-5 days before planting in the ground, the seedlings need to be hardened

Transplanting seedlings into open ground

In a prepared, loose bed after 40 cm make rows of holes. In rows, the distance between the holes is 20-30 cm.

A wide, pointed stake can be used to make neat, even holes of the desired depth and diameter. The earth in such holes will immediately be compacted.

Seedlings and holes well spill with water... If the plant is taken out of the cups, then with the help of light tapping or pressing the container. In this case, peat cubes are good, from which you do not need to get the plant and can be planted directly into the ground.

Lightly sprinkle the seedlings with earth. It is not worth deepening the root system, since it has a superficial type of growth. By planting seedlings in varying degrees of growth, you can extend the harvest period. Stronger shoots will yield faster, weaker ones later.

At first, it is recommended to cover the landings with film or impromptu cups from plastic bottles. Especially if slight frosts are possible.

Before and after planting, the hole and the seedling must be shed with water

Sowing before winter

Another option is to sow in late autumn. It is good because the spring ripening of the lettuce occurs 10-15 days earlier, it is larger and stronger. But at the same time there is a risk of freezing of some of the seeds. therefore increase the number of seeds for sowing before winter 1.5-2 times.

When the outside temperature is within +1 +3 degrees, seeds are laid in the prepared bed. They are deepened by 1-1.5 cm. With this mode, the seeds will safely leave before winter, they will not germinate. The bed is covered with dry grass, foliage and other covering material. Open in the spring when it gets warm.

Care

The main care is feeding, watering, loosening, weeding and thinning.

• Top dressing... They are performed 1-2 times, before sowing and during the formation of heads of cabbage. The best option is to combine with watering and feed with organic
  fertilizers. For this, a solution of mullein or bird droppings is suitable (for 10 liters, 1-2 tablespoons).
• Watering... Regular moderate watering is necessary, every other day or once a week, abundant. If the soil is dry, the heads of cabbage will not form well, if it is wet, there is a risk of rot. After the formation of ovaries, watering is reduced.
• Loosening and weeding... Periodic shallow loosening so as not to damage the roots. The first is 3-4 weeks after sowing. At the same time, weeding takes place.
• If the seedlings are thickened, then spend thinning in two steps. Not doing this work on time, the head of cabbage will be poorly formed. The first time in the phase of one true leaflet, the shoots are preserved after 4-5 cm. The second time is in the phase of 6-7 true leaves. Plants are left every 20-30 cm.

In addition, the plant can be exposed to diseases and pests.

When the iceberg is damaged by apical rot, a solution of calcium nitrate is used

At the end of growth, with a lack of calcium, a disease may occur top rot, inside the stems. For prophylaxis, it is sprayed once a week with a solution of calcium nitrate (100-150 grams per 12 liters of water).

In wet summer, during the invasion of slugs and snails, you can use the drug "Thunder". Arrange the granules in the places of accumulation.

On defeat cruciferous flea beetles, sprinkle with plenty of water and sprinkle with wood ash. Repeat the procedure after 3-4 days.

Reasons for the absence of head ovaries

Paying attention to proper planting and care, gardeners do not always wait for young heads of cabbage. What is the reason?

1. Insufficient watering. Until the formation of ovaries, regular watering is carried out.
2. Shady landing site. The best place is sunny with partial shade.
3. Temperature below +19 degreesespecially at night. It is necessary to cover the plants. The best mode for forming is +20 +22 degrees.
4. Temperature above +25 degrees... this leads to overripening, the acquisition of a bitter taste, flowering.
5. Not enough sunny days.
6. Thickened plantings or thinning was not carried out in time.

For the successful formation of heads of cabbage, it is necessary to observe the temperature and thinning

If often the average, summer temperatures in the region are above 25 degrees at the time of the formation of ovaries, then crops should be sown earlier through seedlings or into closed ground (greenhouse).

Cutting and storage

Across 45-90 days after sowingwhen the diameter of the heads of cabbage reaches 5-10 cm, there is a cutoff.

For better preservation of the juiciness of the leaf plate, the crop is harvested early in the morning. Choose heads of medium density. Young and loose are poorly stored, and dense overripe are inferior in taste.

Heads of cabbage are stored in the refrigerator at +3 +5 degrees for up to 7 days.

Heads of cabbage are stored in the refrigerator at +3 +5 degrees for up to 7 days

Pre-stacked:

• Plastic container and close.
• Into a damp cloth and a bag.

Interestingly, after cutting, the crop keeps growing... At the cutting site, new ovaries grow on the root collar. If you wish, you can leave one for further growth.

Small heads of cabbage with delicious, crispy Iceberg lettuce leaves more and more conquer our taste preferences. Easy care, good preservation and the ability to grow this product, from spring to late autumn, disposes to plant it on your site.

In appearance, Iceberg lettuce can be confused with ordinary white cabbage - its round, juicy, crunchy leaves are collected in the same, only looser head of cabbage. American in origin, it has come to the taste of consumers in many countries. It got its name for the way of transportation in the old days: farmers covered their heads of cabbage with pieces of ice and called them Ice Mountain, and later the name Ice was established for the variety, and then Iceberg.

general characteristics

The leaves have a delicate color from light green to white, twisted into a loose head of cabbage, the weight of which can reach 400 g. Refers to lettuce. They are grown in summer cottages in our climatic conditions both through seedlings and by sowing into the ground. The highest yield can be obtained when planting in greenhouses, since this plant is quite thermophilic. You can even grow it on a windowsill. In the refrigerator, it can retain its taste and crunchy properties for up to a month or more.

Read also: We grow excellent greenery on the windowsill at any time of the year

Seed preparation

The first thing to look out for is the shape, size and density of the seeds. The larger they are, the more nutrients they contain and the stronger and healthier the plant will be. It is better not to use deformed and damaged ones at all.

For friendly shoots, use the same size seeds.

To “wake up” the seeds, soak them in warm water before planting. Better yet, use a technique called bubbling. For this, the water for germination is heated to 23C and, using a compressor, is saturated with oxygen. This method also helps in the disinfection of the inoculum.

You can also get friendly shoots using simple sawdust. For this, shallow boxes are used, into which crushed wood residues pre-scalded with boiling water are poured in a layer of about 5 cm, and cotton cloth is placed on top. Wet seeds are laid on it and covered with a cloth, and then again a layer of sawdust.

The seeds are ready to plant as soon as the white shoots are 1 to 2 mm thick. It is important not to exceed this length, because when planting in the ground, delicate seedlings can break!

Winter cultivation method

If there is a desire to get an earlier harvest, use the subwinter method. To do this, the area planned for cultivation is carefully dug up in the fall, fertilizers rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as trace elements, are applied. It is worth remembering that more does not mean better, the manufacturer always indicates the application rate, and it is not necessary to exceed it. It is better to slightly raise the bed or lay it on an elevated place for better warming up. But you can sow the seeds a little more than usual, it is better to remove the extra seedlings later.

Crops in winter are covered with peat (in spring it will serve as a fertilizer) or old foliage, and in spring the soil is loosened and excess shoots are thinned out.

Growing through seedlings

This method is the most effective, but it will require more effort and attention. 2-3 seeds are placed in peat tablets and removed to a cool room, and after 3 days they are transferred to a warmer one (but not higher than 25C).

Important! During germination, the soil must be constantly moist.

After 7-10 days, the first shoots will appear, and after 14 days the shoots will already have 4-5 leaves. For the transplant to be painless, tempering of the new settlers is required. It is very important to plant seedlings in the country in a permanent place only after the passage of spring frosts, otherwise this delicate plant will be difficult to save.

Young specimens are transferred to the ground very carefully, trying not to damage the earthen lump, because the roots located in it are very thin and delicate. The holes are made at a distance of 40 cm. Water thoroughly and sprinkle with a layer of dry soil or mulch. If the nights are cold enough, it is better to cover the plants for this time with a perforated film.

Video review of growing iceberg seedlings

Sowing seeds in open ground

When planting in open ground in the beds, longitudinal grooves are made at a distance of about 40 cm, into which the seeds are laid out, taking into account the expected germination rate (but a little denser is better). In order for the growing conditions to be the most comfortable, it is worth covering the bed with covering material for the first time - this will give a greenhouse effect and accelerate germination.

Read the related article: Choosing the best covering material: from frost, pests, weeds

After a month, weeding is carried out, weak and excess plants are removed, and superficially loosened, providing the roots with oxygen.

Growing in a greenhouse

Cabbage salads do not like cold climates or too high temperatures. And here a greenhouse will be a good helper. The main thing is to observe the optimal humidity of both the air and the soil, avoiding overheating on hot days.

Plants can be planted in small boxes if placed on shelves (which will greatly facilitate maintenance), or simply in ground beds. In any case, you should pay attention to the following points:

• Observe the temperature regime for germinating seeds in the soil - it should not be higher than 12-14C during the day and 9C at night.
• Iceberg lettuce is a light-loving culture. If the greenhouse provides insufficient light, the foliage will stretch out and the heads of cabbage will turn out to be less dense.
• When the root system is formed (after 12 days), it is time to raise the temperature in the room to 16-20C, but no more.
• The soil in the greenhouse should be loose, moisture-permeable. This is ensured by regular loosening of the row spacings.
• The growing season of this culture is 50-70 days, so it is better to plant seedlings in greenhouses, not seeds. This will shorten the harvest time by 2 weeks!
• Watering immediately after planting is carried out every other day, at a later date - once a week.

Important! If you allow sudden changes in humidity or temperature in the room, the lettuce will go into the arrows!

Seat selection

Since this culture does not like acidic soils, sowing it on the site should be done after growing potatoes, cabbage or grain crops on it. This is due to the fact that these plants themselves bring the acid-base indicators back to normal. But this salad is unpretentious to neighbors.

Soil preparation

For a good harvest, it is necessary to carry out a number of activities:

• Check the acidity of the soil (for this there are special litmus strips that can be purchased at gardening stores). If the indicator is higher than the norm, add ash and lime to it.
• Dig up the planting site and enrich with fertilizers, trying not to overdo it with nitrogen, because cabbage salads tend to build up nitrates.
• It is also good to add humus to the soil (not to be confused with manure, otherwise you will definitely “burn” the plants).
• In heavy soils, sand must be added. This will improve drainage and prevent roots from rotting, even if over-watering.

Care and cultivation

The basic rules for growing lettuce are as follows:

• Regular, timely, but moderate watering is required... Iceberg roots damaged by drought are almost impossible to reanimate. And excess moisture leads to diseases such as gray and white rot, downy mildew (downy mildew).
• Obligatory loosening of the soil... It is better to do this after each watering, but not immediately, but when the soil dries up slightly. This will protect the root system from diseases and increase the access of oxygen to it.
• Plant feeding takes a special place... Regular application of complex fertilizers, which contain not only nitrogen, potassium and magnesium, but also mineral supplements, will give the leaves a spectacular crunch and a beautiful look, but it is important not to overdo it.
• Weed removal required in the care of any plantings, and salad is no exception. Moreover, a lot of space is needed to form forks and uninvited “neighbors” are useless here.

Read the related article: How to get rid of weeds and grass forever: the most effective methods

If you adhere to all of the above rules, you can count on a good harvest of this undoubtedly healthy, tasty and, we will not be afraid of the word, beautiful culture. It is better to cut off the finished heads in the morning, while the salad is still chilled and fresh, removing the lower leaves.

It is recommended to store Iceberg lettuce in a cool, ventilated area, but it is better to eat it right away, before it has lost its amazing crunchy properties. It's a delightful accompaniment to many different dishes!

Iceberg salad is healthy and tasty. It is used in a variety of dishes. In order to grow the product most saturated with vitamins and minerals, you need to grow it yourself. To obtain a good result, you must follow all the recommendations for sowing, watering, lighting. The correct cultivation technology is the preservation of all vitamins in the plant, its healthy appearance, and timely harvest. It can be planted in a greenhouse, in the open field, and at home. It is versatile in terms of growing conditions, which allows you to add self-grown salad all year round.

Greenhouse cultivation technology

Growing in a greenhouse is not possible in all seasons, as high temperatures are contraindicated for Iceberg. The procedure can be carried out in late autumn, early spring. If the greenhouse is heated, planting can be done even in winter. How does the plant react to low temperatures? It is resistant to cold weather, but it is not recommended to sow in severe frosts. The best temperature regime is four degrees. The procedure is performed as follows:

1. Prepare the soil for planting. To do this, they dig it up. It must be fortified with nutrients. For this, humus, fertilizers based on minerals are introduced into the soil. Do not use soil with a high level of acidity under the Iceberg. If it is exactly that, it is required to lower the acidity. For this, ash and lime are introduced into the soil. Nitrogen-based dressings should be used with caution, since lettuce tends to accumulate nitrates in itself. The earth must be augmented. During this procedure, stones, lumps of earth are removed, as they block seedlings;
2. It is recommended to place the seed in a solution with fertilizer for 24 hours, as this contributes to the accelerated formation of sprouts. Then they go 1 cm deep into the ground. A distance of 30-40 cm should be left between the salad;
3. The beds are watered. Then they need to be covered with a film or special material to retain moisture. The film is regularly removed until the formation of seedlings. This is required for ventilation. The lack of a procedure can cause the appearance of powdery mildew and rot;
4. When seedlings are formed, the plantings are thinned out. This leaves only the strongest and healthiest plants. When carrying out the procedure, you need to leave a distance of 30 cm between them.

The correct landing of the Iceberg does not yet ensure its high-quality development. For rapid weight gain and the formation of heads of cabbage, you must also follow the following care measures:

• The iceberg does not tolerate the absence of moisture very well, therefore it requires constant watering. How many times a week to do it? Exactly so many times so that the soil is always moist. The number of waterings decreases by the time the heads of cabbage are set;
• Loosening must be done 21 days after planting. At the same time, the soil crust is removed. Subsequent procedures of this kind are recommended after each watering. This is a measure against the formation of rot on the root system;
• Weeds are regularly weeded;
• Continuous feeding should be performed. What fertilizers should be used for this? You may prefer compositions containing nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium.

Iceberg ripens in about 45-80 days from its planting.

Growing Iceberg lettuce outdoors

Outdoor cultivation is carried out using two methods:

• Through seed;
• With the help of seedlings.

If you prefer growing from seed, the layout is the same as in the greenhouse version. If seedlings are used, additional rules will need to be followed:

• How to grow seedlings from seeds? This will require peat tablets. One tablet will fit 2-3 seeds. Seed material should be pre-soaked in a solution using fertilizer. If you don't feel like doing this, you can purchase yeast seed. It is distinguished by a shell, which consists of a complex of fertilizers. Peat tablets with seed material are placed in a container. It should be placed in a room whose temperature regime is no more than 18 degrees. Seedlings begin to form quickly enough. This will take 4-5 days;
• Seedlings grow actively at high temperatures. However, they should not exceed 25 degrees. You can place the container on an unheated balcony or on a windowsill.It is possible to plant sprouts when its growth reaches 8-10 cm. Usually 4-5 leaves appear on it. It takes 8-9 weeks to reach this stage of formation. Planting takes place in the first spring months. There should be no heat or frost outside. Existing seedlings with smaller growth can be transplanted in the summer. So she will be able to quickly adapt to new conditions;
• For the best adaptation of seedlings, additional procedures are required. For these purposes, it is required to take out the container with seedlings to the open air. At first, such "walks" should be short, later they need to be lengthened;
• Before placing the plant in open ground, you should dig up the soil well, and also add a complex of vitamins and minerals, humus to it;
• If planting is carried out in cold weather, it is necessary to cover the vulnerable sprouts with foil. Airing from it should be done every four weeks. The iceberg does not tolerate high temperatures, and therefore the temperature indicators under the film should be no more than 25 degrees. If the temperature rises higher, it can disrupt the correct formation of the head of cabbage, hinder its growth;
• It is necessary to regularly carry out loosening, watering, weeding.

When the Iceberg is big enough, it is better to tear it up early in the morning. This will help keep it juicy. Such cultivation in the country does not require much effort, however, it allows you to always get a fresh salad at any time.

At home

In order for the Iceberg to be right at your home, you should follow the following recommendations:

1. It is necessary to find pots or containers measuring 60 by 60 cm. Such voluminous containers contribute to the formation of a strong root system;
2. The soil for planting can be found in a special store. It can be made by hand. For this, humus, sand, earth, potassium-based fertilizers are mixed;
3. The seed is soaked in water for 24 hours. The water temperature should be at room temperature. After that, the material is allowed to dry. Planting is carried out to a depth of 0.5 cm. The distance between the salad should be 12 cm. After the procedure, it is required to water, and then put the container in a cool place where there is no sun;
4. The container can be rearranged to a permanent place when the first shoots are formed. Do not choose south-facing window sills. Direct sunlight is very harmful to the sheet plates.

The plant will require standard care procedures, including additional lighting at night, regular watering and loosening. These rather simple procedures will help you take Iceberg right from your window.