ISHS Acta Horticulturae 198: Symposium on the Timing of Field Production of Vegetables
EFFECTS OF PRE-TRANSPLANT VARIABLES ON LETTUCE HEAD SIZE VARIABILITY |
| Author: | D. D. Hemphill Jr |
| Abstract:
Lactuca sativa L. 'Ithaca' was seeded in cells of peat-vermiculite mix of either 12 or 125 cm3 volume at weekly intervals for 4 weeks. Seedlings from each cell size were graded into small, medium, and large categories based on the number of expanded true leaves. Plants of these 6 treatments plus ungraded plants were transplanted to the field and handled according to standard grower practices. Plants grown in the larger cells produced larger heads and head size increased with increasing number of leaves present at time of transplanting. Medium and large size transplants produced larger heads than did the ungraded. Head size variability decreased with larger cell size, with size grading compared to ungraded transplants, and with larger, as compared to smaller, transplants. Presorting transplants by maturity or size could lead to greater uniformity and higher yield at the first harvest. | |
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