Lettuce Growing Guide

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is everyone's favorite, versatile, leafy green vegetable. It is used in salads, wraps, sandwiches, and other dishes. Homegrown, fresh lettuce tastes much better and is more nutritious than what you buy at the store. Lettuce grows quickly and doesn't need much fuss or space. You can grow it easily in a backyard garden, a small balcony, a windowsill, or even a container.

In this Lettuce growing guide, you'll learn everything you need to know about growing lettuce, which varieties to choose from, and how to plant, grow, care for, harvest, and store this easy-to-grow salad vegetable.

Lettuce Plants: A Quick Overview

Lettuce is a cool-season green salad vegetable that is quick and easy to grow. It comes in different varieties, including head lettuce and loose-leaf Lettuce. Loose-leaf lettuces include oakleaf and salad bowl lettuce. Head lettuce includes romaine, crunchy Iceberg, and creamy butterhead.

Lettuce prefers sunny locations and well-drained, fertile soil. They can be grown by either directly sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings. Seeds are planted ½-¼ inch deep and 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost. They grow well in raised beds, but you can also grow them in containers placed on porches, balconies, patios, and decks. Harvest Lettuce when heads or leaves reach full size.

Types of Lettuce Plants

Lettuce plants exist in different leaf colors, textures, and head types. Each type has a different flavor, maturity period, and garden conditions. Here are some common types:

Loose-leaf Lettuce: It is the easiest and fastest-growing variety with loose and tender leaves. You can pick these leaves in just five to six weeks after planting or harvest them whole. Examples include Red Sails, Black Seeded Simpson, Salad Bowl, and Oakleaf.

Butterhead (Boston or Bibb): These plants produce loose, soft heads with delicate leaves and a mild flavor. They are both heat-tolerant and cold-tolerant varieties. You can grow them in any climate. Examples include Esmeralda, Tom Thumb, and Buttercrunch.

Romaine (Cos Lettuce): This variety forms tall, upright heads with thick, crispy leaves. It is more heat-tolerant than butterhead and is an essential ingredient in Caesar salads. Examples include Parris Island, Cimarron Red Romaine, and Italian Blonde Romaine.

Crisphead (Iceberg): As the name indicates, this variety has tight, crispy heads and texture. It is a favorite in many households, but it requires more care and cool growing conditions. Salinas, Summertime, and Great Lakes are popular crisphead varieties.

You can buy these high-quality lettuce varieties through seed catalogs and local gardening stores.

Lettuce Growing Conditions

After choosing the best lettuce variety, the next step is to choose a location and prepare your garden for the plantation.

Plantation Site

Lettuce prefers a location with at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight. When the temperature rises, provide shade to the plants to help protect them against the scorching afternoon sun. Excessive heat may cause the leaves to wilt and lose flavor. Lettuce grows well in raised beds, garden soil, pots, and containers. If there is enough light, you can also grow it indoors.

Soil Preparation

Once you've picked the plantation site, prepare the soil for sowing lettuce seeds by adding 1-2 inches of compost or aged manure. The soil should be loose, well-drained, and moist but not soggy. If you're sowing lettuce seeds directly, dig the soil to a depth of 12-15 inches using our GardenBee Trowel because large clumps of soil and stones can inhibit germination.

Spacing Requirements

Sow lettuce seeds ¼ inch deep with a space of 1 inch apart. You can sow the seed in single rows or scatter it across a wide row (best for loose-leaf varieties). Once the seedlings are 1-2 inches tall, thin them out and space them about 6-12 inches apart. Head lettuces and Romaine lettuces need more space (10-12 inches), while leaf lettuces can be planted closer together (4-6 inches apart). Dense plantings will lessen weed pressure. Lettuce plant rows should be spaced about 12 to 15 inches apart.

Growing Zones

Lettuce is a cool season crop that grows well in the USDA growing zones 4-9. However, you can grow it in any climate with proper timing and care. If you live in zones 4-5, plant lettuce in early spring and fall as soon as the soil is prepared. Those living in zones 6-7 can also plant Lettuce in early spring and fall. Some varieties can tolerate heat if shaded. Lettuce should be planted in zones 8-9 in the fall, winter, and early spring. Lettuce leaves grow best in cooler months, as high heat will cause their leaves to bolt quickly.

When to Plant Lettuce

Ideal soil temperatures for growing Lettuce are between 45°F and 65°F (7°C and 18°C). They can withstand light frosts (below 40 degrees Fahrenheit), and young plants can survive a freeze (around 32°F). However, Lettuce doesn't like heat; it often bolts above 80°F, which makes the leaves bitter and inedible.

There are three ways to grow Lettuce: directly sowing seeds in the ground, starting seeds indoors, or using transplants. You can sow lettuce seeds 2-3 weeks before your last frost date in spring. If you want to start seeds indoors, start about four weeks before transplanting them outside. If you're buying small lettuce transplants from a garden center, you can plant them about two weeks before to 2 weeks after your last frost.

For fall lettuce harvest, choose fast-growing varieties and plant 50 to 75 days before maturity, which is about 1-2 weeks before the first fall frost.

How to Plant Lettuce

There are two ways to plant lettuce: directly sowing or transplanting seedlings.

From Seeds

You can sow lettuce seeds once the soil temperature reaches 40°F, but seeds germinate best between 55°F and 65°F, taking about 7-10 days. Sow the seeds ¼ inch deep and space them 1 inch apart. If you're planting head types of Lettuce, sow the seeds about 2 inches apart in rows about 12 to 18 inches apart.

Once the seedlings are 1-2 inches tall or have 3-4 true leaves, thin them out and space them about 6-12 inches apart. You can also eat thinned plants. Don't sow the seeds too deep since they need light to grow. Cover them with a thin layer of soil. You can plant a single lettuce variety or try a mix of varieties.

From Transplants

Transplants can be started indoors about 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost. Before moving the lettuce transplants outside, harden off the seedlings for 3 to 7 days by exposing them to outdoor conditions. Lettuce transplants should have 3-4 mature leaves and a strong root system when planting outside. Transplants take about 5-6 weeks to reach this size. Space plants about 6-12 inches in rows about 12 to 18 inches apart. You can adjust spacing according to the lettuce variety. Using transplants allows an early lettuce harvest.

Succession Planting

For a continuous harvest, sow lettuce seeds or transplants every two weeks throughout the growing season. This staggered planting will regularly provide your kitchen with fresh lettuce.

How to Grow Lettuce in Containers

The first step is to buy a container that is 6 to 12 inches deep and 18 inches wide. A deeper container provides roots more space and keeps the soil moist for longer. Fill the container with high-quality, damp potting mix and leave about an inch of space at the top. Sow lettuce seeds ½ inch apart and cover them lightly with ¼ inch of soil. Water carefully using a handheld sprayer and keep the soil moist. Apply a diluted, balanced fertilizer every two weeks once the seedlings are 4-6 inches tall. Plant new seeds every 2-4 weeks for a continuous and fresh lettuce harvest.

Caring for Lettuce Plants

Here's how to care for your lettuce plants throughout their growing phase.

Watering

Lettuce has shallow roots, so it requires consistent moisture for healthy growth. Inconsistent watering can make Lettuce leaves tough, slow head development, and cause off-flavors. Lettuce requires 1-2 inches of water per square foot per week. Use drip irrigation to conserve water and supply water directly to the roots. If you're watering using the usual overhead watering methods, use our lightweight watering nozzle and water at the base of plants to keep the leaves dry.

Fertilizing

Lettuce is a light feeder but requires a continuous supply of nutrients for healthy growth. Before planting Lettuce, use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a top dressing of compost. About three weeks after transplanting or thinning, apply 1/4 cup of nitrogen-rich fertilizer per 10 feet of bed for quick growth. You can also use organic fertilizers like aged manure, compost, and fish emulsion as a nitrogen source.

Mulching

Apply organic mulches like straw, sawdust, or grass clippings to conserve water, control weeds, and allow early maturity, especially for lettuce transplants. Use row covers to protect transplants and seedlings from frost.

How to Prevent or Delay Bolting

Bolting is a common problem when growing lettuce plants, especially in warm climates where temperatures exceed 70°F. When lettuce plants bolt, they produce a seed stalk, central stem, and bitter-tasting leaves. Cover plants with row covers or shade cloth to delay or prevent bolting. Water plants throughout the hottest days of the growing season. Another way to prevent bolting is to plant lettuce plants in the shade of taller plants like tomatoes.

Companion Planting

Companion planting is a smart way to improve your garden and deter pests. For example, planting garlic or chives between lettuce rows can help keep aphids away. You can also plant Lettuce alongside summer-season vegetables like zucchini and kale. When you harvest Lettuce in early summer, these summer-season crops will fill the space.

Common Diseases and Care

Lettuce grows rapidly and usually has few issues. Planting lettuce every year in different locations can help prevent many diseases. However, some common pests and diseases can affect lettuce plants.

Aphids: These soft-bodied insects feed on the underside of leaves, causing them to crinkle and They leave behind sticky honeydew, which may result in black sooty mold. Use insecticidal soap or a strong water spray to dislodge them.
Slugs and snails: Slugs are shelled or soft-bodied mollusks that leave irregular holes and slimy trails. They can be controlled by handpicking, setting traps, using copper plant collars, or reducing moisture levels.
Cutworms: These pests can sever young Lettuce stems—causing wilting or disappearing seedlings. You can control cutworms by handpicking, using collars around seedlings, and clearing crop debris.
Downy Mildew: This fungal disease causes yellow or white spots on lettuce leaves and grows in wet conditions. To reduce the risk of this disease, ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering.
Tip Burn: This physiological condition is caused by irregular watering and calcium deficiency. The disease results in the browning of leaf tips. To avoid this condition, provide proper nutrients and keep the soil moist.
Botrytis (Gray Mold): This fungus causes Lettuce leaves to rot, particularly in damp conditions. To control this disease, remove affected leaves and avoid overhead watering.

Harvesting and Storage

Lastly, when to harvest lettuce leaves? It depends on you, as Lettuce can be harvested at any stage during growth. You can harvest leaf lettuce when leaves are about 4 inches tall and before the seed stalk forms. Pick individual outer leaves first and allow the inner leaves to grow.

Head lettuce should be harvested when heads are firm and fully formed. Cut the head at the base with a sharp knife for crisphead and butterhead varieties. If you want tender baby greens, harvest the plants when they are 2-3 inches tall, usually about 3-4 weeks after planting. Once harvested, you can add them to fresh salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups, and smoothies.

Lettuce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days if you want to store it.

The Bottom Line

There you go! If you want to learn how to grow healthy and flavorful Lettuce in your garden, we hope this growing guide has been helpful to you. Choose the best lettuce variety, select the best location, prepare the soil, sow the seed, provide the right care through fertilizing, watering, and mulching, and enjoy fresh lettuce leaves throughout the growing season. So why wait? Put your gardening gloves on and start growing your own lettuce today.

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