If you want to grow an extremely heat-tolerant lettuce variety, then plant Valmaine Romaine Lettuce for a sweet, crispy salad this summer.
If you want to grow sweet, crisp romaine lettuce, then grow Valmaine Romaine Lettuce Plants this summer after other varieties turn bitter and bolted. This post will help you in planting Valmaine Romaine Lettuce Plants.
Valmaine Romaine Lettuce Plants
Valmaine lettuce is a popular choice for original Caesar salads and frequently appears in packaged salad mixes. This variety is favored because it grows quickly from seed and reaches maturity with sizeable heads in approximately 60 days. Additionally, Valmaine lettuce has outstanding tolerance to both cold and heat compared to other romaine varieties. Commercially grown in the southeastern United States, Valmaine and its hybrids are highly resistant to the serpentine leaf miner and the banded cucumber beetle, which are notorious for causing significant damage to lettuce crops.
Propagating Valmaine Romaine Lettuce
From Seeds
Sow the tiny seeds directly in the ground half an inch apart around 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost. Cover the seeds with soil and water gently. The seeds can handle cold soil but can rot in wet conditions.
Once the seedlings grow up to an inch tall, thin them 10 inches apart. Without thinning the seedlings, the lettuce cannot form full-size heads.
Note: Avoid planting all your seeds at once; instead, save some to sow every three to four weeks for a prolonged harvest.
From Transplants
Buy transplants from a local nursery and start planting. This process is ideal for beginner gardeners. Just purchase a starter pack of 5 or 6 plants and plant them in the corner of a raised bed or in pots.
Planting Romaine Lettuce in the Fall
If you live in a climate with hot summers and cold winters, consider growing a second crop of romaine lettuce in the fall. Plant the seeds in late summer, about 6 to 8 weeks before the first expected fall frost. Alternatively, you might find transplants for fall planting at your local garden center. Since late summer weather can still be quite warm, be sure to keep the seeds and plants well-watered.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Valmaine Romaine Lettuce
Light
Choose a location with full sun, though it can be grown in midsummer if provided with some light shade from the afternoon sun. Valmaine lettuce, like all lettuce, prefers cool seasons, but it resists bolting in summer better than other varieties. The frost tolerance of this variety allows for earlier planting in the season or year-round cultivation in warm regions. In cooler climates, using cold frames and greenhouses can extend the growing season.
Soil
You can grow this lettuce in any fertile, moist soil in the garden.
Water
Keep the soil moist, but do remember that this lettuce dislikes wet conditions, so avoid overwatering.
Fertilizer
Apply an organic liquid fertilizer every two to three weeks.
Harvesting
Valmaine lettuce is best when used immediately after harvesting. The heads develop into the classic romaine shape; the outer leaves can be picked for salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. Harvest the leaves on cool, cloudy days to keep them fresher and crisper.