The Prizehead Lettuce produces luscious slow bolting heads of loose, large green leaves with curled maroon tips. This variety is a popular lettuce for both home gardens and markets. Prizehead is truly a prize for its flavor being great in salads and sandwiches.
| Common Name | Lettuce, garden lettuce |
| Botanical Name | Lactuca sativa |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Plant Type | Annual, vegetable |
| Size | 6–12 in. tall and wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun, partial sun |
| Soil Type | Loamy, rich, well-drained |
| Soil pH | Acidic, neutral (6 to 7) |
| Bloom Time | Seasonal |
| Hardiness Zones | 2a–11b (USDA) |
| Native Area | Mediterranean |
When to Plant?
This will be determined by your planting zone. There is a final frost date for each area. As a result, you can plan your gardening activities around this date. Check our Frost Dates Across North America: First & Last Frost Dates Chart. However, the date will not be the same for every plant.
How to Plant
Lettuce grows best in full sun, though excessive heat can cause plants to bolt to seed, or leaves to wilt. For an early start, seeds can be started in flats 4 weeks prior to the last frost and transplanted outdoors in mid to late spring. If growing in summer, select a partially shaded location, or one that receives primarily eastward exposure to mitigate the potentially damaging effects of excessive heat upon lettuce.
Growing lettuce in a container is a good option to help protect it from pests. You also can keep the container in a convenient spot for harvesting. Make sure to check the space requirements for your particular lettuce variety. In general, a container that’s six to 12 inches across should suffice. Make sure it has drainage holes. Unglazed clay is an ideal container material, as it will allow excess soil moisture to escape through its walls.
How to Cultivate
Whether you’re planting in containers or in the ground, make sure the seeds are only lightly covered in soil. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy as the seeds germinate, which should take around seven to 10 days. The soil temperature should be at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit and ideally between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Harvest
The best time of day to harvest is in the morning when the lettuce is still plump and the sun hasn’t caused it to wilt at all. You can harvest cut-and-come-again lettuce types as soon as the outer leaves reach about 6 inches long. Trim off these outer leaves, leaving the inner leaves to continue to mature. If you are growing head lettuce, be sure to harvest before the head starts to elongate. That means it’s ready to bolt, and the flavor will suffer. It can be stored in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for up to 10 days.
Hydroponics
Germination: To germinate Prizehead lettuce hydroponically, soak the seeds in water for 24 hours. Fill a small container with growing medium, place the seeds on top and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Keep in a warm, bright location and mist the growing medium regularly. Once the seedlings reach 1-2 inches in height, transplant them into your hydroponic system.
pH range: The pH range for Prizehead lettuce should be between 5.5 and 6.5. Keep the pH level in this range to ensure optimal nutrient uptake by the plants.
EC: The ideal EC level for Prizehead lettuce is between 1.2 and 1.6 mS/cm. This is the level of electrical conductivity that measures the concentration of nutrients in the hydroponic solution.
PPM: The recommended PPM (parts per million) for Prizehead lettuce is between 700 and 1000. This is the concentration of nutrients in the hydroponic solution.
Humidity: Prizehead lettuce grows best in a humidity range of 60% to 70%. Use a humidifier or a spray bottle to increase the humidity if needed.
Light hours: Prizehead lettuce requires 12 to 16 hours of light per day. Use a grow light if you don’t have access to natural sunlight.
Temperature air: The optimal air temperature range for Prizehead lettuce is between 65°F and 75°F (18°C to 24°C). Make sure the air temperature in your growing area stays within this range by using a thermometer and adjusting the temperature as needed.
Temperature water: The water temperature for Prizehead lettuce should be between 65°F and 75°F (18°C to 24°C). Use a water heater or a chiller to maintain the water temperature within this range.
Overall, hydroponic plants require consistent monitoring and adjustments to their environment to ensure healthy growth. With proper care and attention, you should be able to harvest a bountiful crop of fresh and nutritious greens.
Common Pests and Diseases
Leaf drop (Sclerotinia drop)
Symptoms: Wilting of outside leaves which spreads inwards until whole plant is affected; soft watery lesions on leaves; leaves collapse and lie on soil surface; black fungal structures on infected leaf tissue and soil surface
Management
Disease significantly reduced by application of fungicides immediately after thinning plants; plow soil deeply; rotate crops with non-hosts
Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum)
Symptoms: White, powdery fungal growth on the top and underside of older leaves; leaves turning yellow or brown; small black fruiting bodies may be visible
Management
Disease can be controlled by application of sulfur at first sign of symptoms, as long as temperatures are high enough
We’ve compiled a list of videos that will teach you how to grow prizehead lettuce.
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