How to grow LETTUCE Vegetables in Uganda

Lettuce is one of the oldest leafy vegetables known to man.

It is believed that Lettuce originated from India and central Asia.

Lettuce is the starting point for every good salad, a basic in sandwiches, and a decorative underlayment for many other foods.

Lettuce is nutritious, yet low in calories.

Common Lettuce varieties in Africa

There 5 main types of lettuce grown today and these include: loose leaf variety, Butter head, Romaine, French variety, and the crisp head variety.

Soil requirements for Lettuce to grow

Lettuce requires well drained soils.

It tolerates a wide range of soil, and needs plentiful moisture.

Lettuce do well at a pH range of 6.2-6.8, though sensitive to low pH.

How to propagate Lettuce

Lettuce is propagated by seed, and germination is best at temperature range of40-85F.

Seeds take 7-17 days to emerge in to seedlings.

Contact the Uganda agribusiness guide to buy fresh lettuce vegetables and Seeds in Africa

How to plant Lettuce in Uganda

Lettuce seeds are very fine and should preferably be planted in rows.

Sow seeds directly in to holes 1-2 cm or 1 inch deep.

A spacing of 1 inch apart between plants and 12-18 inches apart between rows should be used.

You can also lightly broadcast seed especially for loose leaf varieties in a patch instead of a row.

Lettuce is shallow rooted so keep soil moist to support continuous growth.

Contact the Uganda agribusiness guide to buy fresh lettuce vegetables and Seeds in Africa

How to Harvest Lettuce in Africa

Lettuce can be harvested anytime after the true leaves form.

For best quality pick early lettuce than the late, as lettuce allowed to grow too long may be bitter and tough.

To harvest cut the crop right at the soil line when mature if you prefer to harvest full heads.

However you can also harvest only the outer leaves to keep the plant in production longer.

Try to harvest in the morning when the leaves are crisp, sweet, and full of moisture.

Contact the Uganda agribusiness guide to buy fresh lettuce vegetables and Seeds in Africa

Quick Tips for planting lettuce in Uganda

• On a well prepared seed bed open up holes in a row.


• Sow seeds 1-2 cm deep and rows should be spaced 1 inch apart.


• Rake the soil flat over the top of the seed, and then lightly press the soil to pack it sufficiently.


• Water the seeds to provide moisture needed for germination.


• Seed germination will be seen 7-17 days after planting.


• Thin seedlings to 7.5 cm between each plant after germination.


• When weeding just hand pick as lettuce do have shallow roots.


• Harvest lettuce according to the type of variety you planted.

Contact the Uganda agribusiness guide to buy fresh lettuce vegetables and Seeds in Africa

Haven't yet found what you Want...?

If you haven't yet found what you were looking for or you need detailed information about the subject matter on this page then... feel free to ask our business travel consultants.