How to Grow Lettuce for Beginners
Lettuce is one of those vegetables that is included in most backyard gardens. It’s easy to grow, can do most of the work itself, and, if harvested correctly, can keep producing all summer long. How to Grow Lettuce for Beginners will give you all the steps you need to go from seeds to an amazing green salad on your dinner table.
Greens are a great veggie to add to your Gardening Growing list because they are easy to grow and quick to harvest.
No matter where you live, you can grow enough lettuce for your family all summer long. Sounds amazing, right? But it’s true!
Whether you live in the city and only have room for a few small containers or you live in the country and your garden is a full spread, growing greens is a great addition to have.
With so many lettuce varieties out there, it can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you are just starting out. This guide will take you from beginner to lettuce growing prow in no time.
Getting to Know Lettuce
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an annual vegetable that grows quickly, usually in 5 to 8 weeks, and there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. Many of those varieties will allow you to harvest just a few leaves at a time so that you can enjoy a fresh salad continuously throughout the summer.
Lettuce is a cool-season vegetable best planted in early spring and harvested in late spring to early summer. If you really love salads and greens, you can also plant a second crop in the fall to keep the harvests coming.
One nice thing about lettuce is that it grows above ground with shallow roots, so it can easily be grown in raised beds or containers that are perfect for a patio garden.
Lettuce Varieties
There are several varieties available, making it easy to plant a few different ones for a variety of salads. Lettuce is high in potassium, fiber, and Vitamin C.
- Summer Crisp – this variety starts out looking like a looseleaf variety, but as it matures, it forms a more rounded head. There are several heat-tolerant varieties that are perfect for a summer garden.
- Looseleaf – One of the easiest types to grow, it’s ready to harvest in 5 to 6 weeks and forms large loose heads. This variety has a continuous harvest making it a top pick to grow.
- Romaine – Most commonly known for Caesar salads but also a great addition to sandwiches, it forms tight, upright heads with very crisp leaves.
- Iceberg – A common variety for salads and sandwiches, the perfect addition to a BLT, with crisp heads.
- Oakleaf – This variety has both green and red leaves and will form into loose heads. You can easily harvest just a few leaves from a head without cutting it all the way back, making it perfect for picking a few leaves at a time.
- Butterhead – also known as Bibb or Boston lettuce, forms loose heads of soft but crisp leaves. This variety has both heat-tolerant varieties for growing in the summer and cold-tolerant varieties for winter harvesting.
Seed, Bulb, or Plant?
Since lettuce germinates so quickly, seeds are a great option for your backyard garden. But if you’re short on time and want a head start, check out your local nursery—they might have plants ready to get your garden growing even faster.
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How Much to Plant
Plan on growing 6 to 10 plants per person in your household. Planting succession crops will help to ensure that you have a constant harvest over the growing season.
What You Need to Grow Lettuce
For growing lettuce, you’ll first want to make sure you’re planting in the right season. Late spring and early fall are usually the best times for most varieties because they are considered a cool season crop.
Make sure your soil is ready for growing. Lettuce does best in rich, loamy soil that drains well and has a pH between 6 and 7. If your yard’s soil isn’t quite up to par, consider using a raised bed or garden container instead.
Finally, sun is important for good growth. Choose a spot that gets about 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day.
When to Plant Lettuce
Getting the timing right for planting lettuce can make all the difference. Soil temperature plays a big role in how well your seeds will germinate. You can start planting as soon as the soil is workable in the spring, but remember that different lettuce varieties like different temperatures. Check your seed packet to be sure.
Most types need the soil to be at least 40°F, while some can handle up to 85°F. That said, the sweet spot for growing lettuce is usually between 60°F and 65°F. You can use a soil thermometer to check the temp before you plant.
For a thick, hardy harvest all summer long, try planting your lettuce in succession—every 10 to 14 days. This way, you’ll have a steady supply rather than all your lettuce maturing at once.
Growing Tips:
- If you’re growing head lettuce, think about starting seeds indoors or in a cold frame. Once the last spring frost passes, you can transplant them into your garden.
- If you’re planting in the summer, stop at least a month before the hot weather kicks in to avoid “bolting,” where the plant shoots up and produces flowers.
- For fall planting, start in late summer so your lettuce can mature as the weather cools down.
Best Conditions to Grow
To grow lettuce, there are a few things you will need to have.
How much Sun
Lettuce does best in full sun although it will still grow quite well in partial shade. Try to plant in an area that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day to produce a healthy harvest.
Best Soil
For healthy plants, your soil needs to be loamy and drain well, with a pH between 6 and 7. If your soil could use a nutrient boost, mix in some compost about a week before planting to get it ready. Also, make sure your seedbed is well-tilled and free of rocks or large clumps—tiny seeds need space to germinate and grow.
Keep in mind that changing up your planting spot every year can help keep diseases in check, so try rotating your crops if you can.
Water Correctly
Lettuce has shallow roots, so it needs consistent watering to stay healthy. Start by giving the soil a nice, gentle water when you plant the seeds to encourage good germination. After that, check the soil about 2–3 times a week.
To see if it’s time to water, stick your finger into the soil near the base of your plants. If it feels dry about 1 inch down, it’s time to water. Aim to keep the soil moist but not soggy—balance is key for healthy roots.
If you’re growing lettuce in raised beds or containers, remember that these tend to dry out faster, so you may need to water more often.
Fertilizing
Plan to fertilize about 4 to 5 weeks after planting seeds. Lettuce thrives in soil that is high in organic matter with plenty of compost and a regular supply of nitrogen. This will help to keep it growing quickly. A slow-release fertilizer will help to keep it fertilized without too much extra work.
How to Plant Lettuce
Once you get your seeds into the ground, it can take anywhere from 5 to 8 weeks to fully mature. This timeline will help you with your planting through the growing season.
1. Spacing and thinning
When sowing seeds directly into the soil, plant about 10 seeds per foot. Space your rows about 12” to 18” apart. Once the seeds start to germinate and sprout, thin the seedling down to 4” apart. Romain and Butterhead varieties will need a little more spacing, about 6” to 8” apart.
Lettuce seeds are tiny, so you may want to use a seed tape or a seed dispenser when planting. I have used both before, and they work quite well.
SLCG Pro Tip: The seedlings you thin out can either be replanted in another area of your garden, in a new growing container, or turned into tasty microgreens.
2. Depth
Lettuce plants have shallow roots so they don’t need to be planted too deep, about ¼” to ½” deep is plenty. This means you can grow lettuce just about anywhere, including flower pots, traditional beds, or grow bags.
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How to Harvest Lettuce
To get the freshest, crispiest lettuce, try harvesting it in the morning before the sun can cause it to wilt. If you only need a few leaves at a time, start with the outer leaves once they’re about 6 inches long. Snip them off carefully, leaving the inner leaves to keep growing and maturing.
For harvesting whole heads, wait until they reach full size, but act fast—cut them just before they hit full maturity by slicing the head about an inch above the soil. If you wait too long, the leaves can develop a bitter taste.
Keep an eye on your crop as it nears maturity, checking daily so you don’t miss the perfect harvest time.
How to Store Lettuce
To keep your lettuce fresh and crisp, store it in a plastic bag and pop it into the refrigerator. If handled right, it can stay good for about 8 to 10 days. Try using a crisper container with a carbon filter—it works wonders in keeping your lettuce crunchy and delicious for longer.
Diseases and Pests to Watch Out For
While growing lettuce, a few pests, and diseases might pop up, but don’t worry—there are simple ways to tackle them!
- Aphids are tiny pests that hide under the leaves, causing them to curl and wilt while stealing nutrients and water from your plants. They can also spread diseases and encourage mold. To fight them off, welcome natural predators like lady beetles or use remedies like horticultural soap or neem oil.
- Snails, slugs, and caterpillars can’t resist munching on lettuce. You can set up organic baits, traps, or simply hand-pick them from your plants to keep them in check.
- Tipburn makes lettuce leaves brown and curl, and it usually happens because the soil’s moisture level is all over the place. Fix this by trimming off the damaged leaves and keeping your watering schedule consistent.
- Deer and rabbits might sneak into your lettuce patch for a snack. To keep them out, try using chicken wire, netting, or garden tunnels.
- Closer planting of lettuce heads can actually help prevent some pests, like aphids, from causing too much trouble.
- Bolting happens when lettuce starts to grow flowers due to warm weather or changes in light—it makes the leaves turn bitter. You can delay bolting by covering your lettuce with shade cloth for filtered light and keeping the soil evenly moist on hot days. Planting lettuce near taller crops like tomatoes or corn can also offer natural shade and help prevent bolting.
Keep an eye out for these issues, and with a little prevention and care, your lettuce crop will thrive.
Growing Tips for Lettuce
Use these tips to grow a big healthy harvest from seeds to salad.
- Lettuce grows well in containers, so it’s perfect for gardeners with little space. Window boxes, pots, baskets, and fabric planters are all good options since the root system is shallow. You’ll need a container that is 4” to 6” deep and has drainage holes.
- Early spring garden beds can be covered with garden fabric or plastic-covered tunnels to capture solar energy and protect the plants from cool temperatures and frost.
- Succession planting is a great option for keeping your garden producing lettuce throughout the growing season instead of all at once. Just plant a few seeds, then plant again every 10 to 14 days.
- To protect from diseases, choose a new area to plant and grow in every year.
- To plant in late summer for a fall crop, you can cool the soil by moistening the ground and covering it with a bale of straw. This will drop the soil temperature about by about 10° F within a week.
- Reduce weeds by planting seeds close together. This will choke out any small weeds quickly if they try to grow.
- Watch your plants for clues they need help. If the leaves are wilting, sprinkle them anytime to cool them from the sun on a hot day. Row covers can also help to keep the heads from drying out on a hot day, which can damage your plants.
- Some varieties allow you to harvest just a few leaves at a time instead of the entire head, providing you with just what you need at any given time.
With so many quick-growing varieties to pick from, lettuce is an awesome choice for beginner gardeners. It’s a plant that keeps on giving—you can enjoy a steady harvest all season long, and even grow it twice a year. This means plenty of chances to try different types and find your favorites.
The best part is that lettuce is super simple to grow. Whether you have a big backyard garden or just a few containers on your patio, it fits right in. It’s the perfect “starter crop” to kick off your summer garden.
