Growing Lettuce

lactuca sativa : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S S                  
      T T              
      P P P P          

(Best months for growing Lettuce in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden, or start in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks.. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 81°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 8-12 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, Onions, Strawberries, Beets, Brassicas, Radish, Marigold, Borage, Chervil, Florence fennel, leeks.
  • Avoid growing close to: Parsley, Celery

Your comments and tips

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11 Jul 20, Valmai (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live on east coast and wondered whether it is a good idea to plant lettuce seeds and what type for summer 2020/2021?
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13 Jul 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
The open leaf varieties. Cos, butter crunch, oak leaf etc. Lettuce seedlings take a lot of care to grow. Seeds need to to be very close to the surface to germinate, only a couple of mm of fine potting mix or seed raising mixture to cover them. Water with a sprayer or mister not with a hose. Water 2-3 times a day, keep the soil moist. Will need to grow them for 3-4 weeks before transplanting them.
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30 Apr 20, Keith (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi I punnet my lettuce but the turn colour the next day. They start getting brown especially when I cut my lettuce on a rainy day and pack them. What I'm i doing wrong ?
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06 May 20, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
When you cut lettuce dry it out before putting in a bag and into the fridge. A spinning colander is best.
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20 Jan 20, Miles (Australia - temperate climate)
I am trying to grow lettuce in soil I have added my home compost to. All seedlings get nibbled down to nothing at night and I can't identify what is going it. I live in Perth and very keen to know what is doing it and how I can control them
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21 Jan 20, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go out at night and see what is eating the seedlings. Sparrows eat my lettuce the first couple of months of the year. I have a bird trap now. They also eat the heart out of my snow peas certain times of the year. Work out how to put a border around each plant or the whole block of lettuce. Like a 90mm pipe 100mm long and put oil or grease or Vaseline on the outside. Or look up similar things on the internet for slugs, snails etc. Or build a frame and cover with shade cloth.
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25 Nov 19, william rowe (USA - Zone 9b climate)
When is the optimal time to grow romaine lettuce in 9B, Ocala,Fl
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27 Oct 23, Nancy (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I grew romaine last year in the Phoenix Valley (9B). I think I waited until December to sow the seeds. We got a really nice crop of it... but last winter it seemed to last much longer than normal, it was still very chilly in Feb. last year (low 60's), when generally we get into the mid 70's then. You could try starting indoors.
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28 Sep 19, Libby Prenton (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I live in Northland and have moved from the UK so am lacking experience in what grows well in this warm climate. I struggled to grow salads through the summer last year. Which varieties of lettuce grow/stand better through hot weather without so much tendency to go bitter or bolt? Thanks, Libby
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07 Oct 19, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I'm Australian sub tropical and if you are similar weather then we mainly grow things from March into winter and some things from late winter into spring/early summer. Most of what you read in Australia and probably NZ applies to temperate and colder climates. They all talk about planting after the last frost. Where I live we generally don't have frosts. Never had one in my yard in 40 years. Things don't grow much here in July August otherwise can grow things most of the year. Summer hot and requires a lot of watering and attention and only certain things will grow. I rest my ground in summer.
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Showing 41 - 50 of 259 comments
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I live on Central Coast and grow lettuce through late autumn to late winter. I raise them in seed trays or scatter them in the garden as soon as the last really hot day has gone by and temperatures are no more than 35 degrees c or below. When I put them straight in the garden I scatter seeds over small area and cover with seed raising mix. I keep them moist with a gentle watering can. When 5cm tall I trans-plant them in to another bed. You could also use this method in flat seed raising trays and a spray bottle. By using sugar cane mulch in the ground surrounding the plants (not touching their stems!) I keep them moist. I also water every to every second day as the weather cools down. My suggestions would be scatter lightly oven baked ground eggshells or hair clippings around the plants to deter snails. if they become a problem. Grow with sweet peas and rocket for great salads. The peas will add nitrogen that the leafy greens will enjoy. Choose a loose head variety so you can pick it as it grows and get multiple harvests the size you want. also better suited to Australia. If you want to try planting lettuce now some tips to stop it bolting are to give it PLENTY of shade, keep harvesting it regularly, (about every second day once it gets going) keep moist (planter boxes might work but could be expensive) and pinch off buds that start to form. In my experience even a resistant variety in a nice shady place with lots of water will go to seed/taste bitter early if planted later than August. But I have seen it done. lettuce is a great to grow easy and rewarding but I would suggest waiting until after Summer. I plant lettuces April on, when you plan depends on your climate conditions. Try companion planting basil and tomatoes together while you wait or growing zucchini plants. If you have a meter square garden bed try planting 16 corn plants, 3 pumpkin or zucchini and once corn is 15 cm high planting a bean seed at the base of each corn plant. Beans are also good for nitrogen that both the corn and beans will need. All of the above I recommend planting now if you are getting the feeling it is already summer. I am not sure if what i have written is relevant to more inland areas of NSW but hope it may be helpful. Good luck with your gardening!

- Ferran

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