Chapter 9. Leafy Vegetable Production
Ramdas Kanissery, Richard N. Raid, Johan Desaeger, Joseph W. Noling, Julien Beuzelin, and
Christian F. Miller
I. Lettuce, Endive, and Escarole
Botany and Planting
Lettuce - Lactuca sativa, Asteraceae (Compositae)
Endive - Cichorium endiva
Escarole - Cichorium endive
Table 9.1. Planting information for lettuce, endive, and escarole.
Planting dates Crisphead Butterhead Romaine Endive Escarole
North Florida Sept - Oct; Jan - Feb Sept - Oct; Jan - Feb Aug - Oct; Jan - Feb Aug - Oct; Jan - Feb Aug - Oct; Jan - Feb
Central Florida Sept - Feb Sept - Feb Aug - Feb Aug - Feb Aug - Feb
South Florida Sept - Feb Sept - Feb Sept - Mar Sept - Mar Sept - Mar
Planting information
Distance between rows (in) 18 - 30 18 - 30 18 - 30 18 - 30 18 - 30
Distance between plants (in) 8 - 12 9 12 14 - 16 14 - 16
Seeding depth (in) 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Seed per acre (lb) 1 - 3 1 - 3 2 - 4 3 - 4 3 - 4
Days to maturity from seed 70 - 95 60 - 80 60 - 80 60 - 80 60 - 80
Plant populations (acre) 43,560 38,720 29,040 24,891 24,891
Cultivars
Table 9.2. Lettuce, endive, and escarole cultivars.
Green Saladbowl Romaine (green) Red Leaf Crisphead Endive Escarole
Green Star Concept Galatic Gator Marcant Full Heart NR 65
Tropicana Fusion New Red Fire Gulfstream Salad King Twinkle
Two Star Kalura Red Saladbowl Raleigh
Medallion Vulcan Summer Crisp (red)
Snappy
Solid King
Terrapin
Boston Romaine (red) Oakleaf (green) Bibb
Florida Butter Crisp Outredeous Royal Oak Cherokee
Ermosa Rosalita Ferrari Floribibb
Margarita