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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05 Mar 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Sorry you're having trouble with your lettuces. Check whether it is the right variety for the time of year. Unsuitable varieties for the time of year will often stay open and go to seed. Lettuces like cooler conditions generally but there are a number of varieties developed for the hotter months. Warer stress can also cause this even if it was in the punnet before purchase. Trust this helps, sorry I can't help you more.
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12 Jan 17, mark Hutton (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
i have just reaped lettuce from my veg garden today. i live in the merrivale area of kzn. it is very hot in somer and garden is north facing. produced a 1.209 kg plant with its roots. difficult to do at this time of year. used madumbi sustainable agriculture products and watered down compost. 100% organic no residues.
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13 May 16, Avril (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Why does my lettuce produce new leaves on top but the bottom leaves turn yellow and wilts? Looks like it is growing well, since new leave appear all the time, but the bottom leaves then wilts... What should I do, or what am I doing wrong?
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02 Oct 16, May (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Your lettuce is probably getting too much sun or its too dry... try putting them in a more shady spot and watering plenty?
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28 Feb 16, Vanya (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Will lettuce grow in dappled shade ?
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17 Mar 16, Bee-Pie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Yes. In fact, they prefer it.
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24 Jan 15, kazi taurai (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
wat are the recomended control measure on snails
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30 Dec 14, Luzanne Nell (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I have a problem with growing iceberg Lettuce. As soon as it starts making heads it rots within 2 weeks time I have to throw them all away. I have same slugs however I do not think this is the main problem. We have a very high rain falls. Could this cause the lettuce to rot?
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04 May 14, Imthiaz Hoosen (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi I am assisting a community garden project in Grasmere, South of Johannesburg. Please advise if lettuce can be planted in May. Thank you
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10 Oct 16, Roger Chicken (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Imthiaz, just picked up your question today and thought I could provide some clarification, especially as we are in the same area.I Find that lettuce love the cooler months here, and will take some light frost. They tend to "bolt" in the hot summer months and do better in broken shade during this time. If you plant seeds in trays at the beginning of Feb. you can start planting out seedlings in early March and continue through to Oct. / Nov.
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Showing 11 - 20 of 20 comments
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Hi Tara, the planting guide says you can plant lettuce in the garden now but how well it does may depend on where you are located and how hot your weather will be. I had a similar dilemma because I live in SW Qld and we have really hot long summers. I tried sowing some seeds in January but they didn't germinate and I read in a gardening book that they will not germinate in temps over 28 degrees. The same book also mentioned that it is possible to germinate lettuces in the fridge so that is what I have done :-D. I now have cute little lettuce seedlings almost ready to plant into the garden (2 loose leaf varieties) and after a couple of cooler days in the last week I have found some of my previous lettuces have self seeded and I have more plants coming up in the garden! I guess i will find out if they survive or not! The biggest danger in the hot temps is that the plants may go to seed quickly meaning less lettuce to eat. If planting lettuces this time of year it is important to give them plenty of shade and lots of water on the hot days. If the plants still go to seed quickly it may be just too hot for them and you can learn for next year. As far as which varieties to choose you should avoid heading lettuces like icebergs because I have heard you won't get a good head on them if it is too hot. I am not an expert - I have only been growing veg for about a year - but you should consider doing what I did and buy some mixed lettuce seedlings from your nearest garden shop and keeping the seeds from the varieties you like the best! Alternatively if any of your friends grow their own you can ask them for a taste or any spare seeds. If you already have some seeds you can always give them a try and see what works best!! If there are any more experienced gardeners out there feel free to correct me if I am wrong!

- Kt

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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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