Lettuce Companion Vegetables & Fruit
- Asparagus The shallow roots of lettuce won’t bother your asparagus crowns one bit. ...
- Beets Deep-growing root vegetables like beets do great with surface level crops like lettuce filling in the gaps. ...
- Carrots Likewise, beloved root veggie carrots do well when planted with lettuce. ...
- Chives Plant some chives in your lettuce bed to help repel aphids from attacking your crop.
- Corn ...
- Cucumbers ...
- Eggplant ...
- Garlic ...
Full Answer
Which lettuce is easiest to grow?
What is the best lettuce to grow?
- Ithaca Iceberg Lettuce. Photo credit: Pixabay. …
- Nevada Summer Crisp Lettuce. …
- Tom Thumb Butterhead Lettuce. …
- Parris Island Romaine Lettuce. …
- Coastline Summer Crisp Lettuce. …
- Ice Green Loose-Leaf Lettuce. …
- Flashy Butter Oak Lettuce. …
- Summer Bibb Butterhead Lettuce.
When should I plant lettuce seeds?
Starting Lettuce Seeds Indoors
- Timing. I begin starting lettuce seeds indoors around January 15th every year. ...
- Space. If you practice succession planting in your garden there may be times when you just don’t have the space to get lettuce seeds plated.
- Better Finished product. I am terrible at thinning. ...
When to start lettuce?
Start lettuce in early spring. Make plantings at two-week intervals for a continuous supply of greens. Plant lettuce in late summer to mature in autumn outdoors. Lettuce grown indoors can be planted at any time of the year. Plants can be brought to maturity under lights or can be moved outdoors when the weather is cool, but not cold.
How to plant lettuce from seeds?
Tip #2 Starting Seeds Indoors
- Begin Planting Seed 6 weeks Before the Last Frost. ...
- Lightly sprinkle 4-5 Seeds Per Pot. Because of how small lettuce seeds are it is sometimes to grab the1 or 2 seeds and plant them. ...
- Provide Your Seeds with At Least 8 Hours of Sunlight. ...
- Spray, Spray, Spray. ...
- Prune & Transplant your Lettuce Plant into a Larger Pot. ...
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How to Grow Lettuce
Lettuce is an easy-to-grow annual vegetable. Considered a spring and fall crop, lettuce thrives when temperatures are between 60 to 70 degrees F. Many varieties reach maturity in as little as 30 days, and some can even be harvested much earlier as microgreens.
How to Harvest Lettuce
You don’t have to worry about how to pick lettuce – it’s one of the simplest vegetables to harvest. Most lettuce can be harvested between 30 to 70 days after planting. When to harvest lettuce depends on the variety and what it will be used for. Really, timing is based on individual preference.
Growing Different Types of Lettuce
There are four popular types of lettuce grown in the United States: romaine, butterhead, head and loose-leaf lettuce. Although the growing and care process is similar for all types, each lettuce has distinct characteristics in the garden.
Common Questions About Growing Lettuce
Lettuce grows fairly quickly. Leaf varieties reach maturity in 30 days but can be harvested as soon as they reach the desired size. Other types of lettuce require 6 to 8 weeks to reach full harvest size.
About Lettuce
Lettuces are a cold-season crop, which means they fare best in cooler, more temperate conditions. Get on and sow them nice and early—starting two weeks before your last spring frost. You can keep planting until the weather gets hot, and then start again towards fall (planting 6 to 8 weeks before first fall frost).
When to Plant Lettuce
Direct sowing in the garden is recommended as soon as the ground can be worked. Sow 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost date . Soil temperatures need to reach 40°F (4°C), though seeds germinate best at 55 to 65°F (13 to 18°C). Seedlings will typically emerge in 7 to 10 days.
Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site
Select a sunny spot for the best growth. Ideally, the plants should get at least 6 hours of sun per day, though lettuce will still grow if given less than that.
How to Plant Lettuce
Seeds should be planted 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch deep. Lettuce seeds need light to germinate, so don’t sow them too deep.
How to Care for Lettuce
Fertilize 3 weeks after transplanting. Lettuce prefers soil that is high in organic material, with plenty of compost and a steady supply of nitrogen to keep if growing fast. Use organic alfalfa meal or a slow-release fertilizer.
How to Harvest Lettuce
Lettuce should be harvested when full size, but just before maturity. The leaves taste best when they’re still young and tender.
Variety selection
Lettuce can be divided into two major categories: leaf lettuce and head lettuce. Leaf lettuce has the greatest number of varieties available and is the most popular type for home gardens. Leaves are smooth or frilly in colors ranging from light to dark green and red to brown.
Preparation and planting
Lettuce is a cool season plant that matures quickly. It will grow on a wide variety of soils but prefers a rich sandy loam or muck. Sometimes seedling emergence is a problem on mineral soils. Provide plenty of moisture early. Before planting, incorporate a balanced fertilizer or compost.
Care
Keep weeds managed when plants are establishing. Tight plant spacing will allow plants to quickly block sunlight from reaching the soil and help with weed suppression.
Harvesting and storage
Harvest head lettuce once heads reach an acceptable size and firmness. Cut off at the stem. For loose-leaf varieties, cut the outer leaves one by one when they’re large enough to use and allow the inner leaves to develop.
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Quick Guide to Growing Lettuce
Plant lettuce during the mild weather of early spring and fall. This nutritious, leafy green is a great option for in-ground gardening, raised garden beds, and containers.
Soil, Planting, and Care
Although lettuce grows fastest in full sun, it is one of the few vegetables that tolerates some shade. In fact, a spring crop often lasts longer if shaded from the afternoon sun as the season warms. You can grow lots of lettuce in a small space, even a container.
Troubleshooting
The most common lettuce pests are aphids. They love the tender leaves and like to hide on the undersides and down in the crown of the plants.
Harvest and Storage
You can harvest leaf lettuce from the outside of the plant, leaving the central bud to grow more leaves, or you can cut the entire plant at the base. Leaf lettuce is ready to eat at just about any size, and you can pick the baby leaves for tender salads.
FAQs
Yes. Leaf lettuce generally matures fast, which makes it ideal for home garden production. Most leaf-type lettuce varieties will mature in seven to eight weeks, but can really be harvested anytime you see leaves big enough to eat. Just take off the outer leaves and let the inner leaves stay to get bigger.
When to Plant Lettuce
The lettuce growing season begins in early spring and extends through fall for northern U.S. climates. In warmer areas, such as southern Florida, lettuce can also be grown outdoors throughout the winter. Increasing daylight hours and hot temperatures stimulates lettuce to bolt, which makes growing lettuce more challenging during the summer months.
How to Grow Lettuce
Lettuce prefers moist, cool conditions, and you don’t even have to worry about chilly weather because the seedlings can tolerate a light frost. In fact, these plants grow best when temperatures are between 45 and 65 F. (7-18 C.).
Tips for Harvesting Lettuce Plants
For crisper lettuce, harvest in the morning. Wash leaves in cold water and dry with a paper towel. Place lettuce in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator.
1. Plant lettuce at the right time
Lettuce is a cool (not cold) season crop; it thrives when temperatures are between 60℉ and 70℉. Hot weather often causes lettuce to bolt and/or become bitter. Look for heat-resistant varieties when growing in warm climates. Begin planting lettuce 4 weeks before the last spring frost date. Plant lettuce again in the fall in warm climates.
2. Try different varieties of lettuce
Leaf Lettuce – Easiest type to grow. Harvest leaves all at once or a few at a time. Types to try: Burgundy Boston; Red Salad Bowl Mix.
3. Choose small transplants or plant directly from seed
Plant lettuce in compost-rich, well-draining soil. Lettuce does best when planted directly from seed.
4. Do not allow lettuce to dry out
Lettuce has a shallow root system and requires frequent watering. Dry conditions cause lettuce to become bitter and/or bolt.
5. Harvest lettuce a little at a time or all at once
When you harvest your lettuce right before eating, you don’t have to worry that the lettuce has gone bad. Lettuce is a great choice for the “cut and come again” method. Harvest outer leaves as needed and allow them to regrow for future harvests. To harvest the entire plant, cut off with scissors 1/2” above the soil line.
Lettuce
Seed Facts
Transplant Facts
- Weeks to grow transplants: 3 to 5
- Start: March to June
- Plant out: April to July
Planning Facts
- Typical spacing: 8” to 12” in 18” to 24” rows
- Plants per square foot: 1 to 2
- Succession sow: every 2 to 3 weeks
- Days to harvest: 25 (baby) to 60 (mature) from seed; 30 to 40 from transplants
Variety Selection
- Lettuce can be divided into two major categories: leaf lettuce and head lettuce. Leaf lettuce has the greatest number of varieties available and is the most popular type for home gardens. Leaves are smooth or frilly in colors ranging from light to dark green and red to brown. Common lettuce favorites include romaine, butterhead and colorful leaf le...
Preparation and Planting
- Lettuce is a cool season plant that matures quickly. It will grow on a wide variety of soils but prefers a rich sandy loam or muck. Sometimes seedling emergence is a problem on mineral soils. Provide plenty of moisture early. Before planting, incorporate a balanced fertilizer or compost.
Care
- Keep weeds managed when plants are establishing. Tight plant spacing will allow plants to quickly block sunlight from reaching the soil and help with weed suppression.
Major Pests
- Insects:Cutworms, flea beetles, aphids, leafhoppers, slugs Diseases:Bottom rot disease and aster yellows spread by the leafhopper insect
Harvesting and Storage
- Harvest head lettuce once heads reach an acceptable size and firmness. Cut off at the stem. For loose-leaf varieties, cut the outer leaves one by one when they’re large enough to use and allow the inner leaves to develop. Another method for baby lettuce is to cut all of the leaves a few inches above the soil, making sure not to cut the growing point. This process can usually be rep…