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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
13 Aug 11, Glenn (Australia - arid climate)
I am trying to identify which lettuces handle the heat better than others. We live in outback SA but we have plenty of water and I can erect shade, but I can't do much about the heat. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Nov 11, JETset (Australia - temperate climate)
What part of Outback SA? If you look at the Diggers site (diggers.com.au) they have a few slow to bolt varieties. That is all I could suggest as I believe it is the heat which causes bolting. Goldrush and Flame are 2 you could try. I am in Adelaide and will probably have the same issue when it gets to late January. Cheers and Good luck
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Jun 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
Could be the white cabbage butterfly they are a common pest ,they can lay eggs which turn into caterpillars then butterfly ... They are a common pest ,,, can use a product called success and it is safe Dan. ( Perth Wa )
Reply or Post a new comment
23 May 11, jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have some Bok Choy and cos lettuce planted. Something is eating them, but the Bok Choy more than Cos. I'm presuming its not snails or slugs as dont they always leave a silver trail behind, of which there isnt any. I have several planter boxes on a table(like a school table) so high off the ground. Does anyone have an idea what types of bug could be doing this-I live in Melbourne's northern suburbs.
Reply or Post a new comment
09 Mar 14, John (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have the same problem with my Bok Choy. It is caterpillars from the white cabbage moth. I try to remove them by hand but some still manage to evade me. A tell tale sign is lots of caterpillar poo in the centre of the plants
Reply or Post a new comment
30 Jul 11, Shona (Australia - temperate climate)
I would suspect possums.
Reply or Post a new comment
24 May 11, Geri (Australia - temperate climate)
I had Bok Choy in also and I initially had cabbage moth catapilliars on it...used some vegie dust and that seemed to do the trick...have eaten it and need to plant more...I am in Melb southern suburbs....good luck
Reply or Post a new comment
24 May 11, Angela (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Jenny, I had a similar problem. Thought it was snails or slugs but then one day found caterpillars on them. They were so small( less than 1cm) I didn't notice them at first, and because they are green they blended in with the colour of my asian greens. The plants were infested and i lost a few of them. Try looking for caerpillars - the cabbage moth type. - Angela
Reply or Post a new comment
17 Apr 11, Thalass (Australia - temperate climate)
How long does it take for lettuce to sprout? I had a couple of plants that weren't doing well and went to seed, but that was a few weeks ago. Shouldn't i be getting random seedlings soon?
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Apr 11, stella (Australia - temperate climate)
some ppl say u need a lot of space to grow iceberg lettuce but i am growing them in containers like old vege boxes and they grow quite good ..in fact whenever i need lettuce i just chop of the leaves from top and they grow again..u just need to water them regularly, so that they stay crisp and not turn bitter..they hav even started to form heads(although not as good as super markets) but full of flavour:D
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 181 - 190 of 258 comments
See comments for all plants

To increase the levels of Molybdenum (Mo, also called Molly) in your soils -- wood ash (from a fireplace, firepit, or barbeque) can be incorporated into the soil. Alternatively, Banana peels are an excellent source of Moly. Animal manure tends to (grass/grain/vegetable feeders) tend to have a decent amount of Moly in their manure. If all of these are out of reach, perhaps try incorporating wood chips/bark mulch in your garden. You can make bark chip paths, use the paths, then the following year when the chips are broken down mix them into the soil. OR -- just mix the wood chips (bark, mulch, whatever) directly into the soil. As the wood is breaking down it takes a lot of nitrogen. I would expect to find Moly in leaf mulch - but have not found any reliable sources that have stated this as a fact. If you choose to use chemical forms of Moly remember that this is a TRACE element - VERY little is needed and over application can result in a OTHER problems. Staying organic almost guarantees you will not over apply. If you live in an area where wood burning stoves and fireplaces where common for heating (pre- electric fireplaces and stoves) - and you know people old enough to have been around when wood ash was common in the garden (there was no place else to put it) - they can tell you how amazing the gardens where back then.

- Celeste Archer

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.