How to Grow Lettuce

Growing guide

Overview

Lettuce is a fast, cool-season leafy green that tolerates light frost and thrives in partial sun and well-drained soil. Backyard growers love it for quick harvests and cut-and-come-again leaf production. It performs well in USDA zones 2b to 9b with consistent moisture.

Soil & planting prep

Lettuce grows best in loose, fertile, well-drained loamy or sandy soil with a pH around 6.0 to 7.0. Work 1 to 2 inches of compost into the top 6 inches before planting. Sow seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep; thin leaf types to 4 to 6 inches apart and heading types to 8 to 12 inches apart.

When to plant

Direct sow as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring, usually 2 to 4 weeks before your last frost date; lettuce tolerates light frost. For a fall crop, sow in late summer about 6 to 8 weeks before your first fall frost, when temperatures start to cool. Make small sowings every 2 to 3 weeks for a steady harvest.

How to plant

1. Loosen the soil about 6 inches deep and mix in 1 to 2 inches of compost.
2. Sow seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep in rows 12 to 18 inches apart, then press the soil lightly.
3. Water gently and keep the seedbed consistently moist until seedlings appear, usually in 7 to 10 days.
4. Thin seedlings to 4 to 6 inches apart for loose-leaf types or 8 to 12 inches apart for heading types.
5. Sow a new short row every 2 to 3 weeks while weather stays cool to spread out the harvest.

5 common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until after the last frost to sow: lettuce germinates poorly in warm soil and bolts quickly once days heat up, so sow 2 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost instead.
• Letting the seedbed or young plants dry out: inconsistent moisture produces bitter, tough leaves and pushes plants to bolt, so keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
• Skipping thinning: crowded lettuce forms small, weak plants and stays damp at the base, inviting rot, so thin to 4 to 6 inches for leaf lettuce and 8 to 12 inches for heading types.
• Growing only one sowing in spring: a single row matures and turns bitter all at once, so sow short rows every 2 to 3 weeks for a steady supply.
• Placing lettuce in hot, full-sun spots in warm weather: heat and strong afternoon sun trigger bolting and bitter flavor, so choose partial sun or use shade cloth when temperatures climb.

Harvesting & storage

Lettuce is ready as soon as leaves are large enough to eat; baby leaves start around 30 days and full heads around 45 to 60 days. For cut-and-come-again types, cut outer leaves about 1 inch above the crown and let the center keep growing. Harvest in the morning, dry the leaves, and store unwashed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to about a week.

Companion planting

Good companions include carrots, radishes, beets, onions, and chives. Some gardeners avoid planting lettuce near brassicas such as broccoli and cabbage because they can compete and may slow growth.

Growing in containers

Lettuce is container-friendly; use at least a 3-gallon pot with drainage holes. Fill it with potting mix, place it in partial sun, and water more often than garden beds because containers dry out quickly.

Pro tips

Sow directly in early spring — lettuce tolerates light frost. Harvest outer leaves for cut-and-come-again. Bolts in summer heat; replant in late summer for a fall crop.