Baby Leaf Greens & Lettuce
Production Guide
955 Benton Ave., Winslow, ME 04901 • Phone: 1-877-564-6697 • Fax: 1-800-738-6314
Email: [email protected] • Web Site: Johnnyseeds.com
The majority of leafy crops can be grown to the baby leaf stage and harvested as salad mix components. For
successful production, however, it is necessary to select the most appropriate varieties and use cultural
techniques specific to growing crops for harvest at this maturity stage. This tech sheet outlines basic field
production methods available to small-scale growers and the primary aspects of producing a wide range of
leafy greens for use as salad/greens mixes.
Refer to key growing information in catalog or website for more detailed sowing specifics.
BED PREPARATION
causing them to die, solarization relies on the
Stale Seedbed Technique. Weeding crops that soil temperature becoming sufficiently high to
are growing at high density can be both time- kill emergent weed seeds. Unless the
consuming for the grower and damaging to the likelihood of the soil reaching weed seed-
crop, so starting with a stale seedbed is imperative lethal temperatures is assured in your area,
for efficiency. Creating a stale seedbed requires the silage tarping is a more reliable means of
grower to plan ahead, to give weed seeds proximal stale seedbed preparation than solarization.
to the soil surface sufficient time to germinate for
the grower to eliminate them, either before seeding • Flame-weeding
or before crop emergence. Useful before seeding fast-germinating crops
like brassicas.
The stale seedbed should be prepared before Form beds first.
seeding fast-growing crops (e.g., brassicas, Irrigate.
mustards), but can be prepared after seeding Can be used after seeding crops that take
slower-germinating crops (e.g., beets, red-veined longer to germinate, such as lettuce. Be sure
sorrel) if using a method such as flame-weeding to flame before your crop seeds emerge, or
that will not disturb the soil surface. they will be killed.
Application of the following tools and methods offer • Tine-weeding
ways to achieve a stale seedbed. Can be used to create a stale seedbed before
sowing crops by removing newly emerged
• Silage-tarping weeds and leaving them to desiccate in the
Form beds first. sun.
Irrigate. Also used as main method of weed control in
Cover with silage tarp for 2–4 weeks, baby leaf crops grown at high density. (See
depending on season and weed species details below.)
pressure. Johnny’s offers several tine-weeder designs
• Warmer temperatures will decrease the in a range of sizes. Choose models on the
length of time needed to germinate and basis of crops and soil type.
kill weed seeds. • Tine Harrow. Used for stale seed-
• Some weed seeds need exposure to light bedding and cultivation in standard and
to germinate, and may require beds to be heavy soils.
uncovered for a period of time to stimulate • Flex Tine Weeder. Used for cultivation in
weed emergence. loose and sandy soils.
Note: Silage-tarping is regarded as a form of • Tine Weeding Rake. Used for stale seed-
weed occultation, which differs from weed bedding.
solarizing with clear plastic. Whereas silage
tarps block all light to emerging weeds,
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SEED BREEDERS, GROWERS, AND MERCHANTS SINCE 1973
SEEDING Variations in temperature, light exposure, and
moisture can reduce the viability of your seed.
• Seeding density Store in a cold, dark, dry place.
Planting at a relatively high density is critical
• Succession planting
to producing quality baby leaf greens. We
To ensure a steady supply of high-quality
recommend using a specialized seeder and
greens, plant every 1–3 weeks, basing
experimenting to find the right seeding rate for
frequency on time of year, crop, variety, and
your needs.
harvest strategy.
Increasing the density (number of plants per
To learn more about succession planting, visit
area) will generally cause the plants to
our Grower’s Library, where we offer a set of
produce longer petioles and somewhat
resources on this subject, including a
slower-growing, narrower leaves for an
Succession-Planting Interval Chart for
extended baby leaf harvest. Decreasing the
Vegetable Crops and a Succession-Planting
density will tend to allow for stronger color
Calculator in the form of a downloadable
development and help delay bolting.
Excel worksheet.
A more densely seeded stand will require
more water and greater fertility than a thinner Johnnyseeds.com/succession-planting
stand.
Refer to crop or variety-specific key growing • Seeders
information provided in our catalog and Jang JP Series Seeders. Highly
website for recommended sowing density. customizable for various seed sizes and
shapes, in-row spacing, and depth. Single-
BABY LEAF LETTUCE & BRASSICA and multi-row models available.
GROWER TIP EarthWay Seeder. Single-row seeder with
multiple plate options for various seed sizes.
For estimating quantities of lettuce or
In-row spacing nonadjustable. Inappropriate
brassica seed needed for baby leaf
production for precision seeding or pelleted seed.
Six-Row Seeder. Good choice for smaller
seeds. In-row spacing and hole size
When calculating how much seed you will adjustable for various seed sizes.
need when sowing your individual baby leaf Four-Row Pinpoint Seeder. Good choice for
varieties or baby leaf mixes, here are a couple smaller seeds and planting in tight spaces. In-
rules of thumb: row spacing nonadjustable.
• Amount of seed required:
1/
16 oz to harvest 1 lb. CROP MAINTENANCE
• 1 oz seed will plant 96 ft2
and yield 16 lb of salad mix. • Irrigation
Uniform irrigation is critical in baby leaf crop
Actual amounts will vary between different production, to:
varieties, seed lots, and their corresponding Ensure good germination;
seeds per pound, but these rules suffice for Maintain even growth;
planning estimates. Maintain quality color; water-stressed plants
can turn yellow or chlorotic.
Growing conditions will also influence yield.
• Post-germination weed control
Stale-seed-bedding prior to sowing allows
your crops to get a head-start in growth, so
• Seed quality that efficient cultivation is possible. There
High germination rates are required to ensure must be a wide enough disparity between the
the success of high-density planting. size of your crop and the size of your weeds
To maintain seed quality, only bring to the to effectively cultivate without damaging the
field the quantities you expect to use. crop.
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SEED BREEDERS, GROWERS, AND MERCHANTS SINCE 1973
Tine-weeding • Bolt-inducing effects of increasing
• Targets weeds from thread stage up to daylength can also be minimized with
the 2–4 true-leaf stage. even fertility and irrigation.
• Use to cultivate directly over established Summer
baby leaf crops once they have grown out • Increased heat can:
of the 2–4-leaf stage. Wash out color, especially in very
• Several tine-weeder designs are available dense plantings.
in multiple sizes, to suit different crops, Cause crops to grow very quickly, to
stages, and soil types. possibly become oversized or unpalatable
Tine Harrow. The stiff tines are used before you are ready to harvest.
for stale-seed-bedding and cultivating • Counteract heat by planning smaller
in standard and heavy soils. plantings with more frequent successions.
Flex Tine Weeder. Best used for • Effects of heat can be mitigated with even
cultivating in loose and sandy soils. fertility and irrigation.
Can also be used over more mature Fall
crops as the tines are flexible enough • Increased cold and decreased light can:
to move around them without causing Concentrate sugars and pigmentation.
damage. Desiccate crops, especially lettuce.
Tine-Weeding Rake. This type of tine- • Crunchier, juicier greens, especially
weeder is best used for stale seed- lettuce, are more prone to cold damage
bedding rather than baby leaf than other crops.
cultivation, as its closely-spaced tines • As a function of the decreased growth rate
render it more aggressive than other in fall, it becomes less likely for multiple
tine-weeder models, limiting its window cuts to be obtained from every variety,
of utility. You may choose to remove depending on seeding date.
every other tine for a less aggressive • Larger plantings may be required across
action. the fall slow-down to provide consistent
yield.
• Row Covers • Use row cover to provide protection from cold
Lay light-weight row covers over brassicas for weather and allow crops to be held longer.
flea beetle protection.
Lay mid-weight row covers over lettuce and
other, more cold-sensitive crops for fall HARVEST
season extension.
Secure close to the ground, to exclude pest • Depending on harvest method, place in trays or
access, by burying the edges with soil or totes; protect from sun, wind, and freezing
sandbags. temperatures; and transport to washing and
packing area.
• Seasonal considerations Hand harvest. Cut greens with a knife when
Consider switching components for different leaves reach desired length (3–5"), staying at
seasonal slots, according to what you find least 1" above soil level and being certain to
works best on your farm. harvest above the plant’s basal plate to allow
Among other desired qualities, look for bolt for regrowth. For long-stemmed brassicas,
tolerance in spring-slotted varieties, heat you may want to cut higher up, to exclude
tolerance in summer-slotted varieties, and long stems from your finished product.
cold tolerance in fall-slotted varieties. Baby Leaf Harvester. For larger plantings on
Spring 30"-wide beds.
• Although temperatures may not be high, Multiple cuts. Depending on your farm’s
bolting pressure peaks as day length markets, scale, and location, you may choose
increases. to allow the plants to regrow after harvesting
• Accommodate by planning more frequent for multiple cuts, or harvest just once. Crop
successions or earlier initial cuttings. quality does tend to decline with regrowth, but
• Greens that have been cut tend to bolt under favorable growing conditions it is
less quickly than uncut greens. possible to obtain a marketable second or
third harvest from many varieties.
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SEED BREEDERS, GROWERS, AND MERCHANTS SINCE 1973
SELECTING COMPONENTS • Know your market.
Do they like spicy, sweet, aromatic, and/or
• Look for a balance of color, texture, and bitter components?
flavor. Is lettuce a must, or do they prefer specialty
and/or flavors redolent of regional cuisines?
• Varieties to optimize success for baby leaf
production are recommended in our catalog • Mixes
and on our website. Crops include lettuce, kale, Use Johnny’s mixes or formulate your own,
chard, beets, spinach, mustard greens, mizuna, comprised of varieties that grow at the same
pac choi, tatsoi, komatsuna, and arugula. Not all rate.
varieties will perform well for baby leaf If your custom mix is made up of crops and
production, so choosing a variety that has been varieties that mature at different rates, sow
proven in trialing for this use is important. them sequentially so they reach harvest-stage
simultaneously and can be mixed together
• Specialty greens, herbs, microgreens, and post-harvest.
edible flowers can all add visual, textural, and Typically, brassicaceous greens are ready to
flavor interest. be harvested 10–14 days earlier than baby
leaf lettuces, depending on the brassica and
lettuce being compared. Salanova lettuce is
ready to be harvested once the heads are full
and relatively dense.
02.22.2021 | BC, RK, JG, ms
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SEED BREEDERS, GROWERS, AND MERCHANTS SINCE 1973
