Lettuce Growing Guide
Lettuces are easy-to-grow, compact, and popular leafy crops, available in various colors, flavors, and textures, including hearting and loose-leaf types. They are quick-growing, versatile for salads, and can be decorative in gardens or containers.
This guidance applies to the crop in general. Individual varieties and local conditions can differ.
Planting information
Lettuce seeds can be sown indoors or outdoors, in containers or the ground, from spring to autumn. Sow thinly 1cm deep. For outdoor sowing, rows should be 30cm apart. Thin seedlings gradually to 15-30cm apart. For continuous harvests, sow short rows every fortnight. Indoors, sow in small pots or trays with moist, peat-free seed compost in a warm, bright location. Move seedlings to individual modules when robust. In summer, sow in the evening with cold water and provide shade to aid germination in high temperatures. Winter varieties can be sown in September/October in a greenhouse or under cloches/coldframes in mild areas. Protect young seedlings from slugs, snails, birds, and cold. Young plants grown indoors or as plug plants can be moved outdoors from spring onwards after hardening off. Choose a warm, sunny site, or a large container (at least 30cm wide and deep) filled with peat-free multi-purpose compost. Space larger hearting lettuces about 30cm apart, and smaller loose-leaf types about 15cm apart. In spring or colder regions, cover with cloches or plastic-free fleece for quicker establishment. In hot weather, water regularly and choose a lightly shaded spot to prevent wilting and bolting. Protect from slugs, snails, and birds. For winter harvests, plant hardy varieties in late summer/early autumn in a greenhouse border or containers for greenhouses/coldframes, or outdoors under cloches in warm locations.
Harvesting information
Harvest lettuces from late spring through to winter, depending on regular sowing and variety. Loose-leaf varieties are ready in 4-6 weeks, hearting types in 10-14 weeks. Harvest in the morning for freshest leaves. For whole lettuces, cut when a firm heart forms, leaving a 2.5cm stump for re-sprouting. Loose-leaf varieties can be harvested cut-and-come-again when leaves are about 10cm long, either by snipping individual leaves or cutting all top growth, allowing for re-sprouting.
Storage information
Crisphead lettuces store well in the fridge, while Butterhead lettuces do not store well.