Growing Lettuce

lactuca sativa : Asteraceae / the daisy family

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

(Best months for growing Lettuce in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • 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

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.
10 Oct 16, jalannie (Australia - temperate climate)
how popular is this vegetable? an what seasons does it grow in?
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?
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.
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!
13 May 16, Avril (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Why does my lettuce produce new leaves on top but the bottom leaves turn yellow and wilts? Looks like it is growing well, since new leave appear all the time, but the bottom leaves then wilts... What should I do, or what am I doing wrong?
02 Oct 16, May (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Your lettuce is probably getting too much sun or its too dry... try putting them in a more shady spot and watering plenty?
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.
30 Apr 16, Paul (Australia - arid climate)
If you grow the loose leaf types you will have better success against frost. I have frost proofed my 2 permanent beds of six different lettuce by growing them in wicking beds and aquaponics as the whole bed keeps itself protected by being a thermal mass during the night absorbing heat from direct sun in the day. Otherwise throw some heavy duty clear plastic over them last thing before the sun goes down and keep your mulch nice and thick. That will help maintain a warmer temperature during the night.
10 May 16, janine (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Thanks for sharing these great tips for growing lettuce in frosty conditions ~ janine
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