Growing Lettuce

lactuca sativa : Asteraceae / the daisy family

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

(Best months for growing Lettuce in Australia - tropical 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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29 Mar 09, Bill Gibbo (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have tried 3 or 4 different types of lettuce seedlings and also grown them from seed - all have the same problem going straight to seed without hearting, they are watered by bore sprinkler every day and in full sun. Any ideas?
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10 Mar 09, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Georgie, Sounds like your lettuce maybe getting too much sun. I grow mine in filtered sun/semi shade in summer and they cope much better.
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07 Feb 09, georgie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
virtually every seedling lettuce I put in wilted and died within a week or so. what sort of conditions do they like??mine were in sun with enriched soil
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05 Feb 09, sharon matthews (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Gerri...ive heard that lettuce needs to be grown fast for it to be sweet. Lots of nitrogen rich organic liquid fertiliser.
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14 Jan 09, sam (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am having trouble with growing my lettuce ,they r in the shade and get loys of water including thrive but they r dying can anyone help. cheers sam am in brisbane
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01 Dec 08, Gerri (Brisbane) (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My Iceberg letttuce grew fast and look perfect but are not sweet. Any tips on how to grow sweet lettuce (and other veggies) in Brisbane please?
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21 Sep 08, PaulinBrisbane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Wondering if anyone can tell me the minimum soil depth Lettuce requires ?
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29 Jul 08, Barbara in Lane Cove (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I'm growing very happy lettuce in hanging baskets in the middle of my clothes line - it's the best place for winter sun, plus the slugs haven't found their way up there (yet) :-) There's still room for the washing around the outside.
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28 Jul 08, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I grow lettuce through the winter frosts. They thrive under agri-fleece material, and survive uncovered so long as the ground doesn't freeze. A chinese cos-style lettuce 'Glenda White' that I got from seed savers years ago does particularly well through winter.
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28 Jul 08, Michelle (Australia - temperate climate)
I am on the Mornington Peninsula area in Vic which often has frosty temps in Winter. I have lettuce growing from June-Aug with no major frost problems, or pests. Bunnings sells organic pest sprays which are okay.
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Showing 181 - 190 of 196 comments
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Agriculture: Molybdenum deficiency is often only revealed in LOW YIELDS. Mo deficiency is the most widespread deficiency after Zinc & Boron. Excess molybdenum in pastures can give rise to animal health problems (in reality it is the nitrogen - Mo acts as bottle neck, so that plants can't uptake a lot of nitrogen -- in high Mo soils nitrogen uptake can be too high-- Ireland -- maybe investigate Denitrifying bacteria, microorganisms whose action results in the conversion of nitrates in soil to free atmospheric nitrogen - also useable in areas where nitrogen is washing into the lakes, rivers and streams). ********** Sometimes Molybdenum (Mo) deficiency can appear like a nitrogen deficiency ************** - it makes sense since Molybdenum (Mo) is required for plant assimilation of nitrogen (both atmosphere and soil). So you might be applying lots of nitrogen.... in situations where you have a molybdenum deficiency.... then just washing away your nitrogen into local rivers, lakes and streams.************* this will cause health problems in aquatic life ******************* Molybdenum is present in the lithosphere at average levels up to 2·3 mg kg−1 but can increase in concentration (300 mg kg−1) in shales that contain significant organic matter. The sources of high-molybdenum soils are Carboniferous black shales and limestones. Don't worry so much about the numbers - it's enough to know that Carboniferous black shales may contain 150 times more Mo than average (in the lithosphere). Molybdenum was the most abundant trace element present in the soluble and insoluble extractions of the wood-ash. ** also see banana peel compost which are high in molybdenum (Mo). *** Take away -- nitrogen is usually not the problem when you see symptoms of nitrogen deficiency -- it is more likely a Molybdenum deficiency.

- 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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