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 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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06 Sep 13, Narelle (Australia - temperate climate)
Does anyone know how to get lettuce seeds germinate? I've bought numerous packets from different sources with no joy...
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09 Oct 13, Jo (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I stick my seed in the fridge for three days before planting then chuck it on quite damp soil pat it down and keep the soil moist. I dont put anything on top exect a little bit of sand if Ive got it. Remember snail bait or whatever - they could be germinating but the pests will get to them before you can see !!!!
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08 Sep 13, Keith (Australia - temperate climate)
All you need is some seed raising mix put seeds in according to the packet give a good watering and don't water it until you see the seeds coming up about a week and then keep moist keep in a warm place if you can or you an buy a small hot house for raising seeds happy planting
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27 Jul 13, fozzee (Australia - temperate climate)
we found harliquin bug were eating our vegie patch but the lil buggers were very good hiders, spray with confidor
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13 Jul 13, Kyria (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted on numerous times over the last few weeks lettuce seedlings. My issue is that as soon as they sprout something keeps eating them:( I can't see a snail trail so I don't think it's that... What else could it be? And how do I get around it without covering the whole patch up? Thanks!
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22 Jul 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
It could be earwigs. Make a trap with some scrunched-up newspaper in an inverted pot and shake the earwigs out every few days into water and get rid of them. Half an orange peel on the ground is supposed to work as a trap too.
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16 Jul 13, Ray (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I often use soft drink bottles with both tops and bottoms removed to make a tube and push these into the soil around newly sown seeds. Helps funnel water to the seeds and seems to deter crawling creatures that like to dine on newly emerged seedlings. Once the seedlings are a decent size I remove the tubes.
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12 Apr 13, marlene (Australia - temperate climate)
is there any iodine/sodium in ice berg lettuces as Im on a low iodine diet ?
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04 Mar 13, Sheryl (Australia - temperate climate)
Has anyone had success growing Celtuce in South Australia? If so do you have any tips as there doesn't seem to be much information around. Sheryl
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19 Oct 12, Trudy (Australia - temperate climate)
Have tried to grow lettuce a few times from seed and bought plants. I do OK til it gets to summer when I really want them for salads. My vege garden is in full sun but these leafy things seem to suffer in the heat. Today was 34C. Silver beet is (OK?)... but do you think that lettuce would be better grown in a shade house to stop it going limp every day at lunchtime? Thanks Trudy
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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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