Leafy Vegetables Edible Container Friendly

Everything You Need to Know About Lettuce — Care, Propagation & More

Your complete Filipino gardener’s guide to growing, caring for, and harvesting Lechugas — from seed to table.

Filipino Lechugas Scientific Lactuca sativa
DifficultyModerate
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Days to Harvest45-70 days
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ContainerYes
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SunlightPartial shade in PH lowlands; full sun in cool months
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What Can You Eat?

Discover the edible parts and how Filipinos enjoy this plant in everyday cooking.

Edible Parts
🥬 Leaf
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How It’s Eaten in Philippine Cuisine

Used raw in salads, sandwiches, and lumpiang sariwa wraps. Romaine and butterhead varieties are most popular in Manila restaurants.

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Cultural Significance in the Philippines

Lettuce is mostly grown in Benguet for Manila supermarkets. Lowland container gardeners can grow leaf-lettuce varieties year-round in shaded balconies or hydroponics. A growing crop among urban farmers in Manila.

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Germination Guide

From seed to sprout — here’s what to expect and how to get started.

5-10 days
Days to Germinate
15-22°C (cool germination)
Ideal Temperature
Seed tray with seedling mix
Method
Step-by-Step Timeline
1
Soak seeds in cool water for 1 hour (helps dormancy break).
2
Sow 0.3 cm deep in moist seedling mix.
3
Keep cool and moist; refrigerate seed tray briefly if temps too high.
4
Transplant at 3-4 true leaves.
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Planting Instructions

Everything you need to prepare — soil, spacing, depth, and the best Philippine planting months.

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Soil Type
Loamy, fertile, well-drained
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
↔️
Spacing
25-30 cm between plants
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Sowing Depth
0.3 cm sowing depth
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Container Size
Minimum 10 L pot or hydroponic raft
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Best Season (PH)
November to February (cool dry season); year-round hydroponic.
Philippine Seasonal Calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
M = recommended planting months
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Propagation Methods

Learn the best ways to multiply your plants — from seeds to cuttings.

Seeds (Recommended)
Steps
1
Use cool-tolerant lowland varieties (Grand Rapids, Allyrouge).
2
Start in shaded seed tray.
3
Transplant in afternoon to reduce shock.
4
Mulch heavily to keep roots cool.
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Care Guide

Keep your plant happy and thriving with the right light, water, and nutrients.

🌞 Sunlight

Partial shade in PH lowlands; full sun in cool months

💧 Watering

Daily; consistent moisture critical

🌱 Fertilizer

Vermicast at planting; foliar feed weekly

🌡️ Temperature

15-25°C (bolts above 28°C)

💨 Humidity

60-80%

🪨 Soil Maintenance

Mulch with rice straw to keep soil cool.

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Harvest Guide

Know when and how to harvest for the best yield and flavor.

45-70 days
Days to Harvest
👀
Signs of Readiness

Heads are firm (head varieties); leaves 15-20 cm long (loose-leaf).

✂️
How to Harvest

Cut entire head at base, or harvest outer leaves continuously.

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Common Problems & Solutions

Spot issues early and fix them fast.

Bitter taste

Cause: Heat stress or bolting

Solution: Plant during cool months; harvest before bolting.

Bolting (flower stalk)

Cause: Long days or heat

Solution: Plant fall crop; harvest at first sign.

Aphids

Cause: Aphid colonies on undersides

Solution: Strong water jet; soap-water spray.

Slugs in moist beds

Cause: Cool damp conditions favor slugs

Solution: Beer traps; copper barriers.

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Perfect Plant Partners

Plants that grow well together.