Growing Lettuce

lactuca sativa : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S S                  
      T T              
      P P P P          

(Best months for growing Lettuce in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden, or start in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks.. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 27°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 cm apart
  • Harvest in 8-12 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, Onions, Strawberries, Beets, Brassicas, Radish, Marigold, Borage, Chervil, Florence fennel, leeks.
  • Avoid growing close to: Parsley, Celery

Your comments and tips

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04 Mar 18, Lonnie (USA - Zone 6b climate)
Planting lettuce
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18 Jan 18, Doug (USA - Zone 5b climate)
Planting lettuce indoors and will transplant outdoors after last frost in May. Keeping some of the plants indoors and will move to larger containers before the roots bind up. My starting mix will need added organic fertilizer after the real leaves are put on and grow light intensity needs to be increased somewhat for indoor food production. If this experiment works, I may continue growing through next winter. As for my outdoor lettuce, last summer I managed to get several cuttings. This year I will be planting on the north side of pole beans so that when the beans are tall and the summer heat comes on, my hope is the shade will increase my lettuce yields for a longer period of time .
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03 Jan 15, Keren (USA - Zone 7b climate)
Lettuce gets bitter if it's too hot and/or when it bolts. Lettuce is ideal is cool temps, and if grown in hot weather does better in the shade or at least partial shade. Full sun in cool weather is fine. Also, too little water causes butter lettuce. Make sure you are either harvesting the plant all at once, or you pick he outer leaves on a consistent schedule. Picking leaves inconsistently can also cause lettuce to bolt.
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12 Jul 14, sherron hardin (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I planted within the time frame as your chat suggested. My lettuce has gotten bitter as it has grown. I have it in full sun. I don't know if that is the reason but it would seem on the second growing it became a little bitter and gets worse as it grows. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help
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Showing 21 - 24 of 24 comments
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To increase the levels of Molybdenum (Mo, also called Molly) in your soils -- wood ash (from a fireplace, firepit, or barbeque) can be incorporated into the soil. Alternatively, Banana peels are an excellent source of Moly. Animal manure tends to (grass/grain/vegetable feeders) tend to have a decent amount of Moly in their manure. If all of these are out of reach, perhaps try incorporating wood chips/bark mulch in your garden. You can make bark chip paths, use the paths, then the following year when the chips are broken down mix them into the soil. OR -- just mix the wood chips (bark, mulch, whatever) directly into the soil. As the wood is breaking down it takes a lot of nitrogen. I would expect to find Moly in leaf mulch - but have not found any reliable sources that have stated this as a fact. If you choose to use chemical forms of Moly remember that this is a TRACE element - VERY little is needed and over application can result in a OTHER problems. Staying organic almost guarantees you will not over apply. If you live in an area where wood burning stoves and fireplaces where common for heating (pre- electric fireplaces and stoves) - and you know people old enough to have been around when wood ash was common in the garden (there was no place else to put it) - they can tell you how amazing the gardens where back then.

- Celeste Archer

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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