New Mexico
Performance of heat-tolerant lettuce cultivars in Southern New Mexico in 2020—21
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a high-value crop cultivated worldwide. Harvested lettuce acreage in New Mexico, USA, trails the leading lettuce production states (California, Arizona), but growers in New Mexico are interested in expanding their production. For New Mexico farmers to increase lettuce production to reach new markets, information on heat-tolerant cultivar performance is needed.
Researchers from New Mexico State University have published new findings on the performance of heat-tolerant lettuce cultivars in Southern New Mexico. The study, conducted during the 2020-21 growing seasons, highlights the potential of specific lettuce varieties to thrive in high-temperature environments, offering significant benefits to local farmers and the agricultural industry.
The study evaluated six lettuce cultivars under the region’s challenging climatic conditions. Southern New Mexico’s high temperatures and intense sunlight can be detrimental to traditional lettuce varieties, making it crucial to identify cultivars that can withstand heat stress without compromising yield or quality.
To determine which cultivars and types of lettuce are better suited for southern New Mexico, researchers measured the following variables: marketable harvest weight, number of days from transplant to first bolt, and number of days from transplant to 50% bolted.
Temperature is one of the main factors affecting the germination and growth rate of lettuce. Higher temperatures often reduce lettuce yield and cause physiological disorders such as premature bolting, tipburn, and ribbiness (protuberances of the outer ribs that prevent normal head development). One of the main methods of overcoming temperature limitations for lettuce production is cultivar selection. Seed companies have many listed heat-tolerant lettuce cultivars, some of which have been evaluated in different locations and many cultivars have been found to be heat-tolerant in specific locations. Heat tolerance is the capacity of plants to function and remain productive under high-temperature stress.
Bolting, when lettuce transitions from vegetative growth to reproductive growth, is promoted in lettuce when temperatures exceed 86 °F. After bolting occurs, the edible portion of lettuce can no longer be harvested. Early bolting could be related to a high sensitivity to increased temperature and is not a desirable trait for lettuce cultivation in warmer temperatures.
This research trial is the first to identify optimal lettuce cultivars for the southern New Mexico region. The consistently high yield of romaine-type lettuce cultivar Sparx makes it a suitable option for growers in southern New Mexico. ‘Sparx’ was productive into the warmer months of the summer, while ‘Mikola RG10’ (butterhead type) and ‘Muir’ (green leaf type), demonstrated slower bolting in 2021. These cultivar performance results offer an initial starting point for further research into appropriate planting dates for southern New Mexico lettuce growers.
The full article can be found on the ASHS HortTech electronic journal website at: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05224-23
Source: ashs.org
Early voting for the 2026 New Mexico Primary Election begins Tuesday, May 5.
Residents can vote at county clerks’ offices until May 16, at which point more early voting locations open.
The Primary Election is on June 2.
Key races in New Mexico Primary Election?
Several state races have a crowded primary field including Democrat candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, governor and the state Legislature. Local races in Doña Ana and Otero County for sheriff and the Board of County Commissioners.
Who can vote in New Mexico Primary Election?
New Mexico has semi-open primary elections, which means voters who are not registered with a qualified political party may participate in the election by selecting which major party’s ballot they want to vote on without changing their voter registration.
Voters who have not registered with a qualified party can participate by selecting a major party’s ballot and vote.
Registration status, voting locations and sample ballots can be viewed at the New Mexico Secretary of State website.
Where to vote in Doña Ana County
Early voting at the Doña Ana County Government Center, 845 N Motel Blvd., Las Cruces, will begin from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on May 5 until May 29, and from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 30.
Alternate site early voting locations will begin at 11 a.m. on May 16 and run through May 30 from Tuesday through Saturday.
The alternate site locations in Doña Ana County are:• Anthony Library (750 Landers Road, Anthony)• HVPS Student Services (350 Main Street, Hatch)• Doña Ana County Community College (755 Prescott Anthony Drive, Chapparal)• Doña Ana County Community College (800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd., Las Cruces)• Doña Ana County Community College (3365 McNutt Road, Sunland Park)• Las Cruces City Hall (700 N. Main Street, Las Cruces)• Mesilla Town Hall (2231 Avenida de Mesilla, Mesilla)• Corbett Center Student Union (1600 International Mall, Las Cruces)
Same day registration will be available at the Doña Ana County Government Center during early voting and all absentee ballots may be returned to the County Clerk’s Office or any Election Day polling location no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Where to vote in Otero County
Early voting at the Otero County Clerk’s sub-office, 1101 New York Avenue, Room 101, will begin from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., Monday through Friday on May 5 until May 29, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 30.
Alternate site early voting locations will be staggered beginning on May 16 at 11 a.m. and run through May 30.
The alternate site locations in Otero County are:10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 16 through May 30Otero County Fairgrounds (401 Fairgrounds Road, Alamogordo)
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., May 27 through May 29Inn of The Mountain Gods (287 Carrizo Canyon Road, Mescalero)
8:00 am to 5:00 p.m., May 28 through May 30 Chaparral Far South Fire Station (827 Luna Street, Chaparral)
Josh’s Monday Night Forecast
Cloudier skies have moved into New Mexico today along with warmer temperatures. A few spotty to isolated showers have also developed this afternoon across western parts of New Mexico. Overnight, upper level moisture will increase across the region. This will bring more scattered to widespread shower and storm chances starting Tuesday.
Showers, storms and high elevation snowfall will move throughout much of the region with southeast New Mexico remaining quiet through Wednesday. Drier air moves in statewide by Thursday. This will bring fewer rain chances through the end of the week along with warming temperatures into the weekend.
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