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 8°C and 27°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 cm 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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09 May 09, Tony R (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I use the root part that often comes with supermarket lettuces. After we've eaten the bought lettuce, I just bung the root (with a leaf or two remaining) into the soil. Some don't take but most do. Free lettuces!
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13 May 09, Jarred (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
hi, are there any tips for growing vegies in general in canberra? im a first time grower too.
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14 May 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Claudie: I find a shallow tray works best (go to the supermarket and get a packet of 4 finger buns the plastic container is ideal) fill with soil, moisten, put the tray back together, put on the HWS check after 3 days. plant out when the second set of leaves appear. Keep moist!! Michelle: Sounds like your lettuce is going to seed. This happens when it is too hot and/or too dry. Jarred: choose cold climate veges! probably too late now for most things in canberra. You could try some peas and lettuce, get some frost blanket/fleece to put over them if it is going to frost o/nite.
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13 Jun 09, sue (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
claudie, i plant lettuce seed directly into the ground, (quite shallow) with a scattering of seed raising mix below and above them. Just thin them out when they've grown a little. I plant them quite close because we eat mostly young leaves (continuous picking). I plant in dappled light, under trees........they are surviving frosts at the moment. Have fun planting!
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16 Jun 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Anyone know where I can get May Queen lettuce seeds in Australia???
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25 Jun 09, SWAY (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
at school we are makeing a vegie garden and where planting lettuce . we think the best way to plant lettuce os to collect boxes and milk containers and plant the seeds in them
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30 Jun 09, valerie tasmania (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
nothing better than a great looking lettuce from the home garden.fresh clean and tasty to plant the best plants ,water and watch them devolep
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02 Jul 09, brian (Australia - tropical climate)
i live on the tropic of capricorn line,,what type of lettuce would do the best in this area.. i was thinking of haveing a rised garden as the soil here is quite clayey..behind my shed (LARGE) is my choice as it get afternoon shade there..
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16 Aug 09, Jaime (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Anyone have an organic remedy for aphids on lettuces?
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12 Sep 09, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
Jaime, 100gm chopped garlic head soaked in 2 tsp veg oil for 24 hours. Mix 2 tsp liquid detergent to 1/2 ltr water and mix the lot together and stand for 24 hrs. Drain and label and put in fridge. Add 5ml to 1 ltr water to spray on crop.
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Showing 31 - 40 of 251 comments
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Most clear plastic is considered direct sunlight - unless there are special filters in the plastic. That is to say, if the only thing between your lettuce and the sun is regular clear plastic, you should be fine. As and FYI there are multiple categories: 1. Direct sunlight - some plants require direct sunlight on their leaves 2. BRIGHT shade; for example when I lived in a Condo, my balcony had no direct sunlight, but because the buildings beside my building had huge glass windows I had VERY bright shade and could grow most full sun potted plants. This also applies to living near the water, where the sun gets reflected-- MOST full sun plants are fine with REFLECTED light but not all. This could also be a a very sunny field, with shade cast from one building, chances are good that would be very bright shade 3. Sun/Shade with all its variations 4. Light shade and 5. Deep shade like the middle of a dense forest. I see no reason why you could not grow SOME of your veggies in the bright shade. I find that many plants labelled full sun, are not. For example: strawberries are generally labelled full sun. However, strawberries TEND to grow naturally in the shade of other plants: woodland or forest floor, in meadows shaded by other plants. I've noticed that any of my strawberries that get full sun tend to have burnt leaves, and the best yielding strawberry plants are in a cool predominately shady areas. I suspect that planting your plants that tend to bolt in a cooler shadier area would be very helpful. I've even grown cherry tomatoes in very bright shade with great success.

- Celeste Archer

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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. GardenGrow 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.
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