Lettuce

How to grow lettuce

Light

Grow in full sun in spring and fall. In warm weather, give afternoon shade to delay bolting.

Watering

Lettuce has shallow roots. Keep the top few inches of soil consistently moist with light, frequent watering.

Soil and feeding

Rake compost into the top layer of the bed. A nitrogen-rich liquid feed three weeks after sowing supports leafy growth.

Planting and pruning

Sow outdoors two to four weeks before the last spring frost and again in late summer for a fall crop. Sow shallowly, 1/8 to 1/4 in (3–6 mm) deep, because the seed needs light to germinate. It sprouts poorly in soil above 80°F (27°C). Thin leaf lettuce to 4 in (10 cm) apart and heading types to 10 to 12 in. Sow a short row every two weeks.

Propagation

Grow from seed. To save seed, let a plant bolt and collect the fluffy seedheads once they are dry.

Common problems

Plants shoot up a tall stalk and taste bitter

Bolting, triggered by heat and long days. Grow in the cool seasons, choose slow-bolting varieties and provide shade.

Holes and slime trails

Slugs and snails. Water in the morning, hand-pick at dusk and use iron phosphate bait.

Brown edges on inner leaves

Tipburn from uneven watering in warm weather. Keep the soil evenly moist.

Questions about lettuce

How do I harvest lettuce so it regrows?

Pick the outer leaves and leave the center to keep growing, or cut the whole plant 1 in (2.5 cm) above the soil. Leaf varieties regrow two or three times.

Can lettuce grow in shade?

Yes. It is one of the most shade-tolerant vegetables and produces well with three to four hours of direct sun.

Plant details

• Edible
• Grows in containers
• Good for beginners
• Pet-safe
• Tolerates shade