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 46°F and 81°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches 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 Feb 17, Gail (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted a variety of lettuce from seed. From about 15 seeds planted only 1 is starting to grow. I can't see anything eating the shoots could there be bugs in the ground eating the seedling before it shoots?
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04 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Lettuce and other fine seed like carrot needs consistent moisture to germinate as the seeds are fine. A notorious thief of lettuce and carrot seeds are ants! Sprinkle pepper along the row when sowing the seed, this is an excellent deterrent. Trust this helps.
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04 Jan 17, john shanahan (Australia - temperate climate)
Why is it that so many of vegetable plants go to seed before 'hearting'. Mainly lettuce?
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06 Jan 17, (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi John, not sure if your question is about your garden, or just seeding in general. I had total failure with my lettuce this year. I planted in November, and the Sydney summer was just too hot. In some areas classed as temperate climate you can plant all year, but this guide can't fit everyone. Where I live is generally 6 degrees hotter than Sydney CBD throughout summer, so trying lettuce at that time of year was stupid. Lesson learned. Regarding bolt in general, I think it's really just that plants will do anything to survive. I'm no botanist, so this is all my opinion only. If the conditions are perfect, the plant has the energy and nourishment to produce a harvest. As conditions move further away from ideal, the plants behaviour becomes less about producing a large crop (showing off), and more about survival. When conditions are untenable, the plant will abandon the crop, and put all available energy into producing seeds to try again next year. That's bolt as I understand it, I'm more than happy to be corrected.
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09 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Lettuces like cooler weather. Varieties like Iceberg, Imperial 847, Imperial Triumph will bolt to seed readily.Great Lakes, Penn Lake, Yatesdaale will tolerate warmer conditions but are a coarser leafed lettuce.
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10 Oct 16, jalannie (Australia - temperate climate)
how popular is this vegetable? an what seasons does it grow in?
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08 Jul 16, Katie (Australia - temperate climate)
I left my cos lettuce to seed last season in our raised garden bed. The new plants are now growing beautifully, but they are all quite bitter. Even the baby plants. They are getting plenty of water, being winter time! Any ideas as to why this may be and what I can do about it?
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20 Aug 16, Luke (Australia - temperate climate)
Usually if it's too hot lettuce can get bitter but I think it may have more to do with the soil quality, and/or Ph. I would look into the Ph and then the soil nutrient content.
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29 Jul 16, Simon (Australia - temperate climate)
hi Katie, I had the same problem with red cos lettuce ... not sure wat can be done, its a shame no one replied with a solution!
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05 May 16, janine (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Establishing a new veggie garden in full sun in frosty rural Northern Tablelands NSW. Thinking a wire fence to keep out rabbits, roos etc. Any suggestions for a deciduous climber to grow on the fence running north-south to protect my veggie garden from the western sun in summer but warm it up in winter. Winter nights can get down to -15°C. Thank you.
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Showing 51 - 60 of 196 comments
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I live on Central Coast and grow lettuce through late autumn to late winter. I raise them in seed trays or scatter them in the garden as soon as the last really hot day has gone by and temperatures are no more than 35 degrees c or below. When I put them straight in the garden I scatter seeds over small area and cover with seed raising mix. I keep them moist with a gentle watering can. When 5cm tall I trans-plant them in to another bed. You could also use this method in flat seed raising trays and a spray bottle. By using sugar cane mulch in the ground surrounding the plants (not touching their stems!) I keep them moist. I also water every to every second day as the weather cools down. My suggestions would be scatter lightly oven baked ground eggshells or hair clippings around the plants to deter snails. if they become a problem. Grow with sweet peas and rocket for great salads. The peas will add nitrogen that the leafy greens will enjoy. Choose a loose head variety so you can pick it as it grows and get multiple harvests the size you want. also better suited to Australia. If you want to try planting lettuce now some tips to stop it bolting are to give it PLENTY of shade, keep harvesting it regularly, (about every second day once it gets going) keep moist (planter boxes might work but could be expensive) and pinch off buds that start to form. In my experience even a resistant variety in a nice shady place with lots of water will go to seed/taste bitter early if planted later than August. But I have seen it done. lettuce is a great to grow easy and rewarding but I would suggest waiting until after Summer. I plant lettuces April on, when you plan depends on your climate conditions. Try companion planting basil and tomatoes together while you wait or growing zucchini plants. If you have a meter square garden bed try planting 16 corn plants, 3 pumpkin or zucchini and once corn is 15 cm high planting a bean seed at the base of each corn plant. Beans are also good for nitrogen that both the corn and beans will need. All of the above I recommend planting now if you are getting the feeling it is already summer. I am not sure if what i have written is relevant to more inland areas of NSW but hope it may be helpful. Good luck with your gardening!

- Ferran

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