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Last Updated on November 14 , 2023

lease ’s sing grow dough ! While it ’s not of necessity the most thrilling crop of them all , I think lettuce merit a post in every garden . It ’s fast and easy to grow , has pretty down disease and pest pressure , and who does n’t love a novel , kinky homegrown salad ? Plus , there are so many beautiful and singular lettuce miscellanea to grow beyond what you see at the store . So , stick with these tip and acquire how to grow lettuce successfully .

Rows of different lettuce varieties that range in color from red to green are growing inside of a raised garden bed.

This guide will report the ideal temperature to grow lettuce , how to start lettuce from seed , different varieties , plant spacing , along with sun , soil , water , and fertilizer needs . We ’ll also explore means to protect lucre from warmth or frost to prolong your develop time of year , as well as the unspoilt ways to harvest and store lettuce to make it last !

What’s the best time of year to grow lettuce?

Like most leafy green , shekels grows best duringspring or fallin most climates . This cool - season crop thrives when temperature are in the 50s and 60s ( F ) , though some heat - tolerant varieties will also maturate well in the low to mid 70 ’s too . In places with balmy winters , you could raise lettuce right through the wintertime . Find the good fourth dimension to start lettuce seeded player or plant seedlings in your area withour ready to hand planting calendars – they ’re available for every geographical zone !

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A planting calendar for zone 9 which shows when certain types of vegetables should be sown or started indoors, outdoors, planted outside, as well as first and last frost date.

Will lettuce survive in heat?

Lettuce can support a few strong 24-hour interval here and there ( in the 80 ’s ) especially if it chill down at dark . But an extreme heat effect or prolonged temperature over 75 - 80 ° F will make lettuce“bolt ” – or go to flower then seed rather than grow new leave of absence . The existing leafage will also become increasingly tough and vitriolic . So , if your scratch starts to bolt , it will taste well if you harvest it rather than by and by ! Some dough form are more forgiving and tardily - to - bolt than others .

Pro tip : To extend the lifespan and timbre of plants , useshade clothto keep cabbage cool during quick condition .

Is lettuce frost hardy?

Yes , mature simoleons plant life will survive light frosts – and even a hard freezing or two ! However , the harder the frost , the more leaf damage will occur . Frost - damage sugar leaves appear thin , sinister or discolored , and wilted . They are n’t great to eat , though your wimp orworm binwill like them ! Cold temperatures regularly below 45 - 50 ° F also score lettuce develop more slow .

Therefore , project to protect lettuce from frost when possible , peculiarly tender new seedlings . One pick is to shelter them withhoopsandfrost cover . Cut off freeze - damage leave-taking to make path for refreshful sizable regrowth .

How much sun does lettuce need? Can lettuce grow in shade?

Lettuce originate well when it receives full Sunday , or at least6 to 8 hours of verbatim sunper day . However , most varieties of moolah will stomach partial shade ( 4 to 6 hours of sun ) and may even benefit from afternoon shade during warm weather .

How long does lettuce take to grow?

Lettuce develop very quickly , making it an ideal crop for short grow season , as a makeweight craw between others , or for successiveness planting many rounds of bread over a longer grow season . Most bread varieties spring mature heads in less than 60 days after planting seed , though you may start harvesting young leaves far rather – in 30 days or less .

Lettuce varieties

Romaine , iceberg , redleaf , bibb , buttercrunch , salanova … There are lashings ( if not C ) of dissimilar character of lettuce to grow ! originate lettuce varieties that you wish to wipe out , but also say description to find varieties well - suited to your clime and growing preferences . For example , we always look for out heat tolerant or bolt - resistant lettuce varieties to help cancel our irregular springs and warm evenfall weather .

in person , I care lettuce with a fairly open head structure to hold cut - and - come - again or ceaseless harvest home ( excuse more in the “ harvest ” incision below ) . It ’s also fun to grow a few dissimilar color ! Some ofour favorite lettuce varietiesincludeCoastal Star , Nevada , Freckles , Magenta , Red MistandMuir – all of which are heat patient of bread varieties .

Growing dough from source will give you the most options , though your local nursery should carry several different type to choose from too .

The inside of a raised garden bed full of rows of lettuce covered with hoops and row covers to protect them from the wildlife and cold weather outside. Grow lettuce if you need to harvest a quick crop or grow throughout the season.

How to grow lettuce from seed

Here are some baksheesh for starting lettuce from semen . If you ’re arise lolly from glasshouse seedlings instead , skip in front !

Related guide : Seed Starting 101,How to Thin Seedlings , feed Seedlings , Grow Lights 101,Hardening Off , andTransplanting Best Practices

How far to space lettuce plants

Lettuce space varies bet on the case of lettuce and intend use or size . Most lettuce varieties needat least6inchesof outer space between each plant life ( heart and soul to center ) to mold full promontory . Varieties that bring on enceinte heads may prefer up to 8 inches of space , such as romaine or butterhead . small loose foliage lettuces can be planted as cheeseparing as 4 inches apart , while those intended to be used forbaby greensare often scattered or sown in a exclusive slow patch with very little blank between plant life .

near spacing is all important for lettuce to expand and to grow courteous dense nous . Crowded plantsare in contention for food , flow of air , source space and water , and can leave to spindly growth . This utilise to lettuce growing in the garden as well as indoor lettuce seedling – which is why I always advocate cutting seedlings early on ! Overcrowded plants are also more prostrate to disease and pests .

Soil, water and fertilizer for lettuce

Lettuce raise best in grunge that is well - drain , loose , and reasonably racy inorganic matter , such as potting filth or native dirt that has been amended with compost and / orworm casting . Lettuce also likesregular water(at least double per week ) and consistently dampen ( not sluggish ) soil . We installed automateddrip irrigationin all our raised beds . We and the plants both love it !

loot plant have a shallow beginning systems , so be trusted tomulcharound them ! Mulch will prevent the top few column inch of soil from dry out , and also soften the industrial plant beginning from temperature swings .

Lettuce needs adequatenitrogento support lush leafy growth , so consider adding a aristocratic slow - releaseorganic fertilizerto the territory prior to planting . Or , apply diluteliquid seaweed , alfalfa tea , compost teaorfish emulsionafter planting / during the grow season .

A raised garden bed full of mature head of various types of lettuce. One of the varieties is bolting as the center of the plant reaches upwards into a spike in hopes of flowering and making seeds.

Can I grow lettuce in pots?

Yes , scratch is a howling crop for container gardens ! With its small height and shallow root system , dough grows very well in pots – includinggrow old bag , wine-colored barrels , plastic deal or terracotta . you may even grow lettuce indoors in pots under grow light or in a vivid sunny windowsill ! prefer a container that is at least 6 to 8 inch deep and has adequate drain holes in the bottom . Wider containers may give you enough space to grow a few lettuce plants per pot .

Potential lettuce pests

The most common simoleons pestilence include slug , escargot , pillbugs , caterpillar , beetles , grasshoppers , and aphids . However , I discover lettuce attracts far fewer insect than kale and other leafy commons ! shuttle , rabbits , cervid , squirrel , and other gnawer may also be tempted to nibble on your loot . If require , harbour boodle withhoops and float row cover(e.g.insect veiling ) or private cloche can be effective at protecting the plant from a diverseness of pest – specially vulnerable young seedling . See more options for industrial plant covershere .

touch on pest control guides : aphid , caterpillars , slugs and snails

How to harvest lettuce

you’re able to harvest lettuce at any stage , and any way you see fit ! Pluck single small leaves when the plants are still young to enjoy asbaby leaf dinero . If you do that , always make indisputable to leave several leaves behind to continue to photosynthesize and grow , and never cut the very centermost leaves . Or , you’re able to wait until the works matures and harvest afull headof lolly at once . In that case , I suggest cut it out at the base of operations rather than pulling out the roots . Some varieties will acquire back !

I sleep with to use thecut and come again methodto harvest lettuce . Rather than harvesting the entire head , we cut or gently draw out off a few of the outmost or old leaves from each promontory as needed ( every few day to once per hebdomad ) . That way , we can glean lettuce from the same industrial plant formany many months . This is also a great way to get a lot of lettuce from just a handful of plant !

The best way to store lettuce

The best way to store fresh lettuce is in therefrigerator in an airtight container , such as a enceinte nutrient storage “ tupperware ” or glass container with a lid , or in a sealed plastic cup of tea . Add a tinysplash of waterinside to aid keep thing damp . In my experience , lettuce continue good and crisp for over a week this mode !

For the near results , harvest homegrown lettuce when the plants are chirpy and it ’s nerveless outside ( such as first thing in the morning or late even ) and then get it into the icebox as cursorily as possible to prevent droop .

And that’s how to grow lettuce.

You may also savour :

A few rows of lettuce growing in the ground have all died and are laying on the ground from frost.

Raised garden beds are pictured with hoops and frost row covers over them to keep the seedlings safe from frost and birds.

A raised garden bed with five rows of various types of lettuce growing. Grow lettuce to make your own salads at home.

Four 6 cell packs with various lettuce seedlings growing in them, most cells have two or three seedlings per cell. They will soon be thinned down to one seedling to maximize plant growth.

A scissor is bracing to cut one of the two seedlings in the one cell of a 6 cell pack. Thin the seedlings when you grow lettuce to one seedling per cell for optimal growth.

A hand is holding lettuce microgreens after they have been thinned from the seedling trays of lettuce below so there is only one lettuce plant per cell.

A raised garden bed with drip tape irrigation has small lettuce seedlings planted in rows in between the drip tape. The colors of the lettuce range form greens and reds to combinations of the two. Aaron is standing just beyond the beds, looking at the camera.

A close up image of a large garden bed overflowing with five rows of various lettuce varieties. From speckled red and green, to dark and light green, as well as light and darker red, the varieties are endless.

A small red lettuce plant growing in the soil next to a drip line with an emitter directly behind it. Using drip irrigation is a great way to grow lettuce.

A raised garden bed with a number of heads of large romaine lettuce plants. A hand is pulling down one of the outer leaves for harvest.

A wicker basket mostly hidden by a bountiful bouquet of various lettuce varieties and baby leafy greens. The backdrop is a brick walkway lined with a lavender bush to the baskets right. Grow lettuce for a healthy meal anytime.

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