When is the best time to plant lettuce
Growing Lettuce From Seed - The Complete How To Planting Guide
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Growing lettuce from seed is simple, and so rewarding. In this post, I will show you exactly when and how to plant lettuce seeds for the best results.
Growing lettuce seeds is so much cheaper and far easier than you might think. Once you get good at it, you’ll never go back to buying starts again.
Planting lettuce seeds is fairly straightforward. But, there are different methods you can use, and some important things to keep in mind in order to end up with healthy seedlings.
If you want to be really successful, this guide will show you the best system to use, and walk you through everything you need to know about how to grow lettuce from seed, step by step.
Table of Contents
Growing Lettuce From Seed
In this section, you’ll learn all about different types of lettuce seeds to grow, which sowing methods will work best for your garden, and how long it will take.
Types Of Lettuce Seeds For Planting
There are tons of varieties of lettuce seeds you can grow. I like to plant several different types so I have a good mix for my salads.
Some of my favorites are mesclun leaf mix, French Red Leaf, and Butterhead. Other popular options are romaine, bibb, or iceberg.
Related Post: How To Collect Lettuce Seeds From Your Garden
Different types of lettuce seed packetsRecommended Lettuce Seed Starting Methods
You can plant lettuce seeds directly in the garden, start them indoors, or even try winter sowing them.
I personally find it easiest to direct sow them, since they grow so fast, and the small seedlings can be difficult to transplant.
The method you choose depends on what is most convenient for you, and where you live. If it’s too hot or cold to direct sow them, then your best option is to start them indoors.
Related Post: 3 Seed Starting Methods That Every Gardener Should Try
How Long From Seed To Harvest?
Lettuce seeds grow very quickly.
On average, it only takes about 40-50 days for them to reach full maturity.
You can start harvesting leafy varieties much sooner than that, since they don’t need to reach full maturity first.
However, larger types, or those that produce a head, need longer to mature. It can take anywhere from 55-80 days from seed to harvest for iceberg, romaine, or bibb lettuce, for example.
Mature leaf lettuce ready to harvestPlanting Lettuce Seeds
Sowing lettuce seeds takes a little bit of planning. Don’t just throw them into the garden and hope for the best. Set yourself up for success by planting them the right way, and at the proper time.
When To Plant Lettuce Seeds
Lettuce seeds germinate best in the cooler temperatures of spring or fall. If it’s too hot, they won’t germinate.
So, the best time to plant lettuce seeds is as soon as the ground is workable in very early spring, or once the temps start to cool down in late summer or early fall.
Lettuce Seeds Germination Time
In general, it takes somewhere between 4-10 days for lettuce seeds to germinate.
In perfect conditions, it can be as little as 2 days.
If the soil is too warm, dry, or wet, or if there’s no light, it will inhibit germination. So, if your lettuce seeds aren’t growing, then check the temperature, light, and moisture levels.
What Do Lettuce Seedlings Look Like?
When they first sprout, lettuce seedlings are very small, and have two rounded and slightly oblong shaped leaves. Those are called the “seed leaves”.
All of the ones that form after that are called the “true leaves”, and they look exactly like the mature ones – only much tinier.
Lettuce seeds germinatingHow To Care For Lettuce Seedlings
Once your lettuce seedlings have germinated, they still need extra care. Here is what to do to ensure success after they sprout.
Light
In order to germinate and grow their best, lettuce seeds and seedlings need lots of bright light. So make sure to use a grow light indoors to ensure they stay compact.
Water
They will also do best in consistently moist soil.
Never allow it to dry out or become too soggy. A moisture gauge is the perfect tool to help you get it just right.
Fertilizer
Once your baby lettuce seedlings form their first true leaves, you can start feeding them with a half strength dose of organic seedling fertilizer, liquid fish emulsion, or compost tea.
Thinning
If you end up with overcrowded lettuce seedlings, then you should thin them to give each one plenty of room, especially head varieties.
Otherwise they will compete for light, water, and nutrients, and end up crowding each other out. Which means you’ll have leggy plants that produce very little.
First true leaves on lettuce seedlingsTransplanting Lettuce Seedlings Into The Garden
If you started your lettuce seeds indoors, then there are a few steps you must take in order for them to survive being transplanted into the garden.
First, make sure that you harden them off to prepare them for life outdoors, and never skip this step.
Otherwise, the transplant shock could be fatal.
Also, it’s very important to transplant them at the right time. Lettuce seedlings hate the heat, and hot weather will trigger bolting.
So plant them into the garden as soon as the soil is workable in very early spring, or after your last heatwave in early fall.
Baby lettuce seedlings in my gardenFAQs About Growing Lettuce Seeds
You are probably feeling pretty confident about growing lettuce from seed by now. But you might still have some questions. Here are answers to the ones I get the most.
Why won’t my lettuce seeds germinate?
If your lettuce seeds don’t germinate, they are most likely old. Otherwise, you may have planted them too deep, or the soil is too warm, too wet, or too dry.
How many lettuce seeds do you plant per hole?
How many lettuce seeds to plant per hole depends on their age. If they’re new, then plant one per hole. Otherwise, if they’re more than two years old, plant 2-3 per hole, then thin them out later if necessary.
How deep do you plant lettuce seeds?
You don’t need to plant lettuce seeds very deep. Since they are so small, and require light to germinate, you should plant them only about 1/4 inch deep.
Should I soak lettuce seeds before planting?
While it’s certainly not required, soaking lettuce seeds for 12-24 hours before planting can help to speed up germination.
How can you germinate lettuce seeds faster?
To germinate lettuce seeds faster, try soaking them for 12-24 hours before planting. Also, keep the soil cool, and give them plenty of light right from the start.
Do lettuce seeds need light to germinate?
Yes, lettuce seeds need light to germinate, so make sure that you don’t sow them too deep. Then put them in a bright location during germination, or hang a plant light right above the trays.
Growing lettuce from seed is fun, and very easy. Simply follow the detailed instructions above for the best success, and the biggest bounty!
Would you like to learn how to finally be successful with growing your own seeds? Then you should take my online Seed Starting Course! It’s a fantastic and fully comprehensive online course that you go through at your own pace.
Enroll and begin today!
Otherwise, if you just need a little refresher, then you should download my Starting Seeds Indoors eBook for the perfect quick start guide.
Up Next: Learn exactly how to care for your lettuce plants here.
More Posts About Growing Seeds
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- How To Plant & Grow Radishes From Seed
- How To Grow An Avocado Tree From Seed
- How To Grow Spinach From Seed: Step-By-Step
Share your tips for planting lettuce seeds in the comments below.
Steps For Planting Lettuce Seeds
Below I will walk you through the steps for how to plant lettuce seeds. Before you begin, gather all of your supplies so you have everything you need to hand. This will make the sowing process much easier and faster.
Materials
- Lettuce seeds
- Water
- Seedling trays (optional)
- Seed starting soil (optional)
- OR peat pellets (optional)
Tools
- Hand trowel
- Grow light (optional)
- Soil thermometer (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the soil or pellets - Indoors, pre-moisten the potting mix or peat pellets before planting in plastic trays.
Outdoors, use your garden trowel to loosen the top inch of soil, and remove any weeds or large rocks and sticks before sowing. - Determine how many seeds to plant - Outside, sow the seeds in rows 12-18" apart. Indoors, plant one per hole for fresh seeds, or 2-3 per hole if they're old.
- Plant the seeds - Sprinkle the seeds over the top of the garden soil or indoor trays, or plant them no more than 1/4" deep.
- Water the soil - Use the lowest setting on your garden hose outdoors, or water the indoor trays from the bottom. Water them well until the soil is evenly moist, but not soggy.
- Cover the seed flats (optional) - If you started them indoors, cover the trays with the plastic humidity lid.
- Indoors monitor light and temperature - Put the trays in a bright location, or add a grow light. Use a soil thermometer to ensure the temperature stays between 65-75°F.
Lettuce Growing | General Planting & Growing Tips – Bonnie Plants
Read these expert tips on growing lettuce.
Save money and grow your own salad greens in your vegetable garden. It is much more simple then you may think!
If you grow only one vegetable other than tomatoes, it should be lettuce. Growing lettuce is so easy, takes up little space, and you can even grow it among flowers. Lettuce grows for many weeks in the mild weather of spring and fall. Leaf lettuce is easy to tuck in between and under taller vegetables, and is perfect for containers. See our online catalog for more about the different types.
Quick Guide to Growing Lettuce
- Plant lettuce during the mild weather of early spring and fall. This nutritious, leafy green is a great option for in-ground gardening, raised garden beds, and containers.
- Space lettuce plants 6 to 18 inches apart (depending on the variety) in an area that gets an abundance of sun and has fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
- Improve native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.
- Well-hydrated lettuce will bear tender leaves, so keep moisture levels consistent by watering whenever the top inch of soil becomes dry.
- Prevent weeds and make your watering efforts last longer by applying a thick layer of mulch made from finely ground leaves or bark.
- Promote excellent leaf production by regularly feeding with a water-soluble plant food.
- Harvest leaf lettuce starting with the outermost leaves once they are large enough to eat.
Soil, Planting, and Care
Although lettuce grows fastest in full sun, it is one of the few vegetables that tolerates some shade. In fact, a spring crop often lasts longer if shaded from the afternoon sun as the season warms. You can grow lots of lettuce in a small space, even a container. Mix it with other taller plants, such as tomatoes in the spring, or grow a mix of different varieties for a living salad bowl.
Give lettuce fertile, well-drained, moist soil with plenty of rich organic matter and a pH between 6.
0 and 7.0. To check pH, test the soil with a purchased kit, or get a soil test through your regional Cooperative Extension office. Fertilize and lime according to test recommendations.
If you don't do a soil test, then assume that the soil isn't ideal. Add nitrogen-rich amendments such as blood meal, cottonseed meal, or composted manure, or simply mix in Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose In-Ground Soil with the top few inches of your native soil. When growing lettuce in pots, give the roots their ideal growing environment by filling the containers with a premium quality potting mix such as Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose Container Mix. Leaf lettuce needs nitrogen to grow tender, new leaves quickly, so fertilize throughout the growing season with Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules.
In the spring, begin setting out lettuce plants about a month before the last frost. Lettuce grows best within a temperature range from 45 to about 80 degrees.
Hot weather makes it bitter; extreme cold freezes it. When well rooted, some Bibb types such as Buttercrunch will tolerate a surprising amount of frost.
Plant fall lettuce beginning about 4 to 8 weeks before the first frost. If you use a cold frame or row cover, gardeners in many areas of the country can grow lettuce through the winter.
Lettuce spacing is not an exact science, but Bonnie varieties tend to do best with spacing between 6 and 18 inches (depending on type, so check the tag). Generally, you should space plants far enough apart so that they can grow to full size. However, many gardeners plant lettuce much closer together, preferring to harvest leaves continuously before they reach full size. The plants adapt to their spacing.
For the most tender, succulent leaves, water regularly during dry weather. Also, mulch to keep the soil cool and moist, and prevent weeds.
Troubleshooting
The most common lettuce pests are aphids. They love the tender leaves and like to hide on the undersides and down in the crown of the plants.
Harvest and Storage
You can harvest leaf lettuce from the outside of the plant, leaving the central bud to grow more leaves, or you can cut the entire plant at the base. Leaf lettuce is ready to eat at just about any size, and you can pick the baby leaves for tender salads. Romaine lettuce forms its characteristic mid-rib before harvest; at full size it makes an upright leafy clump. Bibb types such as Buttercrunch form a loose head; you can harvest anytime, but for the classic Bibb rosette, wait until the lettuce is nearly full size (6 to 8 inches in diameter) and cut it at the soil line.
The same is true for heading iceberg types; however, in warm climates where head lettuce doesn't make a firm head, you can harvest it like a leaf lettuce, removing leaves as they get large enough to eat.
Lettuce tastes sweetest in cool weather, which is why it is such a great fall crop. As the weather warms, plants will go to seed. By the time they begin to stretch and send out a seed stalk (called bolting), the leaves are bitter.
When this starts to happen, harvest all your lettuce immediately and try storing it in the refrigerator, where some of the bitterness may disappear.
FAQs
Is leaf-type lettuce easier to grow than the head-type?
Yes. Leaf lettuce generally matures fast, which makes it ideal for home garden production. Most leaf-type lettuce varieties will mature in seven to eight weeks, but can really be harvested anytime you see leaves big enough to eat. Just take off the outer leaves and let the inner leaves stay to get bigger. Head lettuce varieties take a little longer and are more sensitive to warm weather.
The tips of my lettuce leaves are turning brown, but the base looks healthy.
What is the problem? Browning, or scorching around the margins of leaves is often caused by too little water. During dry weather be sure to water and keep the soil mulched. If the plants are getting enough water, perhaps the roots have been injured from too much fertilizer, nematodes, or too close cultivation. A lack of potassium and calcium can also cause the margins to scorch.
My lettuce plants have grown tall and flowered. What should I do?
It's time to pull your lettuce up. The flowering stalks form at the end of the spring growing season when the days are longer and warmer.
My lettuce tastes bitter. Is it the variety?
No, all lettuce gets bitter during hot weather and when the flower stalks begin to form. You can store the leaves in the refrigerator for a day or two to see if some of the bitterness will disappear. Some gardeners like the slightly bitter taste to add punch to a salad.
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How to grow leaf lettuce on a windowsill and garden bed
May 13, 2022 Likbez Adviсe
Follow the instructions and you will no longer have to buy greens in stores.
Where you can grow lettuce
Leaf lettuce thrives in garden beds. In open ground, you can plant both seeds and seedlings grown at home or bought in a store.
If you don't have a dacha or your own plot near the house, lettuce will perfectly fit in a container on the windowsill. You can grow greens from seeds or try rooting a bunch in a pot from the vegetable section.
How to grow lettuce from seeds outdoors
The easiest option is to plant lettuce seeds directly in the ground. So you do not have to mess with seedlings, and the result will be no worse, although a little later. It will be possible to harvest in 25-35 days.
It is better to choose a sunny place, without shading. Well, if last year legumes, tomatoes, cucumbers or potatoes grew there. Thanks to crop rotation - the so-called alternation of plants - the risk of damage by pests and diseases will decrease, the harvest will be better. But sowing lettuce in the same bed for two years in a row is not worth it.
When to plant lettuce outdoors
Early varieties can be planted as early as April-May, while mid-season and late varieties can be planted from April to mid-June. When planting early, the main thing is to wait until the earth warms up enough and warm weather sets in without frost.
Lettuce can be re-sown periodically by removing old plants by the roots. So you can get a crop all summer.
How to grow lettuce outdoors
Dig up the soil 1-2 days before you sow the seeds. Make parallel grooves about a centimeter deep or slightly less at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other.
Sow the seeds at about 5 cm intervals, lightly cover with soil and water. If it is cool outside, the beds can be covered with a film until shoots appear.
When the greenery shows through, it can be thinned out if the planting is too dense.
Too dense plantings can be thinned out to give the plants enough room to grow and develop / Photo: tanitost / ShutterstockHow to care for lettuce
Weeding, watering and loosening are the main points in care. On hot spring and summer days, you need to moisten the beds with lettuce every 1-2 days. In cloudy, rainy and cool weather, the intervals can be increased. The main thing is not to let the soil dry out completely. It is better to water in the morning or in the evening, and not during the most sunny hours. Moreover, it is desirable to use a watering can so that moisture gets on the leaves of the plant. After watering, gently loosen the topsoil.
Feeding and special fertilizers can be dispensed with during growth. It is enough to bring mullein or bird droppings into the ground in the fall, and start planting in the spring. Don't worry if you don't have time to prepare in advance. In fertile and not depleted soil, lettuce will feel good anyway.
Remove weeds as soon as they appear so that they do not interfere with the normal growth and development of plants.
How to grow lettuce from seedlings outdoors
Growing lettuce seedlings makes sense if you want to get the first harvest as soon as possible. Small plants planted in open ground will grow leaves quite quickly, and it will be possible to start collecting them in one and a half to two weeks.
When to plant lettuce seedlings
The best time to plant seedlings is March or early April. If you missed the deadline, do not worry: you can buy young plants for planting in the ground even at the beginning of summer.
How to grow lettuce seedlings
It is better to plant lettuce seedlings in peat pots or separate cups - one seed in each. So it will be easier for you to move the plant to a permanent place without damaging it.
Planting lettuce seeds in separate cassettes or pots makes it easier to transplant them without damaging the roots / Photo: Alexander Raths / Shutterstock If you want to plant lettuce in a common box or container, make grooves in the soil 1 cm deep and at a distance of about 5 cm from each other. Sow the seeds at a distance of about 10 cm. A denser planting will have to be thinned out over time.
Cover the sown seeds with a thin layer of soil and moisten with a spray bottle. Cover with foil and leave for a few days until shoots appear. Do not forget to remove the film every day and air it for at least half an hour, and when the sprouts are visible, remove the cover.
Soil suitable for universal or special seedlings. Feeds are not needed.
When to transplant lettuce outdoors
After about 3 weeks or less, when the plants are strong enough, they can be planted in a greenhouse or outdoors. At the same time, you need to wait until the earth warms up enough, and the threat of frost recedes.
How to care for lettuce
Caring for lettuce planted outdoors as seedlings is no different from caring for lettuce sown directly in the beds. Depending on the weather, plants should be watered from a watering can in the morning or evening every 1-2 days or less. Also, do not forget to loosen the soil and remove weeds.
How to grow lettuce from seeds on a windowsill
Leaf lettuce is a great option for an apartment garden. It is very easy to take care of, and you can harvest the first harvest in about 25 days. It is worth paying attention to early-ripening varieties that feel fine in low light.
No special conditions are needed, although some points are better to take into account. Ideally, if the windows face east or west and are not too shaded by trees. It will be too hot on southern plants, and there will be little light on northern ones.
In autumn and winter, when daylight hours are short, special lamps will have to be used. Without them, the plants will be frail and will not please with abundant greenery.
In late spring, summer and warm autumn, lettuce will feel great on a balcony or loggia / Photo: Ashley‑Belle Burns / ShutterstockRoom temperature is fine. But keep in mind that with constant strong heat, the lettuce will quickly release arrows and begin to bloom, and the leaves will be bitter.
For planting, you can take ordinary pots or larger containers, always with drainage holes and trays. The soil is suitable for store, universal or special for vegetable crops. In addition to it, drainage is needed. It can be expanded clay, broken bricks, small shards of raw clay pots, pebbles, gravel and even foam.
When to plant lettuce on the windowsill
There are no strict time limits when growing indoors. Seeds can be sown at any time of the year.
How to plant lettuce seeds
Place a layer of drainage on the bottom of the container. Spread the soil on top, retreating from the edge of about 0.5 cm. Slightly moisten the ground with a spray bottle, but do not create a swamp.
Sow the seeds not too thick and cover with a layer of soil no thicker than 5 mm. If you do not want to thin out crops, place the seeds in the ground at a distance of at least 5 cm.
Cover the container with film or glass and leave in a warm, shady place.
How to care for lettuce on the windowsill
Air the plantings every day for at least half an hour before germination to prevent mold.
After 4-5 days, when the first shoots emerge from the soil, remove the film or glass. Rearrange the container with plants on the windowsill or loggia. After a week, thin out your plantings so that the distance between plants is approximately 1.5–2 cm. When 2–3 true leaves appear, repeat the procedure again. This time, leave a distance of about 5 cm. You can plant the plants that you have to pull out in a separate bowl.
Rotate the container of lettuce every few days. So it will develop evenly and will not turn out to be one-sided due to the fact that one side will be constantly in the sun, and the other will not.
Don't forget to water. It is needed on average every other day, although it all depends on the conditions. For example, in a warm room or on the southern windowsills on hot days, the earth will dry faster. Therefore, do not leave the salad unattended. At first, while the plants are very small and fragile, it is advisable to combine watering with spraying. Although after, especially in rooms with dry air, this procedure will benefit. In any case, it is better to use water at room temperature or a little warmer, always separated.
Top dressing is not needed if you immediately take high-quality store soil.
How to grow lettuce from a grocery store on a windowsill
The vegetable department often sells lettuce in pots. Due to the fact that plants have a root system, they stay fresh longer and store better. And after cutting the greenery, the plants can be planted and re-harvested from them.
Another crop can be harvested from store-bought lettuce in a pot / Photo: ArtSvetlana / ShutterstockWhen to plant a lettuce in a pot
You can give a plant a second life at any time of the year, the main thing is to create the right conditions.
How to plant lettuce in a pot
Cut off all lettuce leaves 1-2 cm from the ground. Carefully separate the pot. It is quite thin and fragile, so it can be cut with a sharp knife or scissors.
Place the roots in a bowl of settled water at room temperature.
When the new leaves are 4-5 cm long, plant the lettuce in a pot or container with an all purpose store soil.
How to care for lettuce in a pot
No problem. Just water the salad about every other day and spray frequently. No need to feed. This is enough to harvest another new crop.
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- How to grow green onions on a windowsill
When and how to plant lettuce in open ground, experience
Growing lettuce on a garden plot is quite easy and fast, but it also has its own tricks, knowing which you can get early tasty tender greens. I plant seeds immediately in open ground. Of course, the taste of any vegetable or garden greens depends on the variety. From different varieties of lettuce, I now prefer to grow the Odessa kucheryavets variety. This is an old, trouble-free variety of lettuce. I see many advantages in it for myself: medium-early, has a long shelf life, is resistant to stemming, semi-headed, with delicate fragrant greens without bitterness. There are a lot of tasty juicy leaves in a half-headed lettuce. The period from germination to the beginning of fruiting is 45-50 days.
When to plant lettuces in your garden
How to plant
How to get your own lettuce seeds
What can be cooked from lettuce leaves
By the way, if you buy seeds once, you can grow a crop and leave a few plants for forcing seeds, then you won’t have to do more buy seeds, unless of a new variety.
When to sow lettuces in the garden
Almost all varieties of lettuce are cold-resistant crops, they can be planted in early spring. I plant seeds in open ground in late March-early April. And in the first half of May, and sometimes even earlier, I already pick green juicy leaves.
In an area where the summer is cool, it can be grown all year round, but in our climate this does not work - the summer is too hot in the Kuban. I tried to plant for a second crop at the beginning of summer and at the end of summer, nothing good came of it. The leaves grew small, bitter, tasteless, and in the last lean summer (2020) and in general the second sowing failed.
Based on my own experience, I came to the conclusion that hot weather greatly affects the taste of lettuce leaves. They quickly become coarse and become bitter, the plant throws out flower stalks (arrows). To obtain seeds, this salad with flower arrows is necessary, but it is not very suitable for the table, so planting dates (early spring and autumn) must be taken into account.
In previous years, I planted lettuce not only in early spring, but also in autumn (for the Kuban this is the second half of October), when the temperature is optimal for it, and I got two crops a year.
When sowing in early spring, sometimes I plant lettuce on those beds, where I will plant seedlings of cucumbers later. By the first half of May, the lettuce ripens, and the place where it was planted is freed up for cucumbers.
At the end of September-beginning of October, I sow lettuce seeds in the ground, where onions and garlic have already been harvested. And in a month and a half or earlier I’m already harvesting from it, but if the weather is warm in autumn, you can also plant it at the end of October - this will be the third harvest for the season.
How to plant
The optimum temperature for growing lettuce is 15-20°C. To make the salad not only tasty, but also healthy, I do not apply any fertilizers under it, I just loosen the soil. I sow the seeds in furrows located at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. I deepen the seeds into the soil to a depth of 1.5-2 cm and cover them with a layer of soil, compact the soil and then mulch with mowed grass. After that, I water and wait for shoots.
How to get your own lettuce seeds
It couldn't be easier... In a garden planted in early spring, I leave a couple of plants to seed. These plants throw out a flower arrow and at the end of summer I collect seeds from them for the next season. There are a lot of seeds, much more than what is in the bag that we buy. It doesn't last for one season.
What can be prepared with lettuce leaves
Lettuce leaves can be simply chewed fresh, they can be added to other vegetables and are very good to use in sandwiches. I love lettuce, its leaves for their fresh taste, crunch and, of course, for curly hair…
As for me, I often cook two salads with the addition of lettuce leaves of Odessa Kucheryavets. One dish I have consists of radishes and half-headed lettuce. I fill it with vegetable oil.
The second course is boiled chicken, lettuce, green onions and mayonnaise. You will say that chicken without lettuce leaves is tasty on its own, but the fact of the matter is that it is this green that gives it a special sophistication and piquancy.
