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

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04 May 08, Liz (Unknown climate)
If your lettuce are bolting (going to seed quickly) in Queensland, check how deep the water is penetrating into the soil. It may be drying up too quickly. Have you tried giving the plants some shade in the middle of the day? Also find out which varieties your local plant nursery is selling as seedlings. They may be the varieties that will be successful in your area.
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03 May 08, Don (Unknown climate)
Should we start lettuces off with plastic bottle covers in the winter here in Canberra?
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03 May 08, Richard Wood (Unknown climate)
Could you please let me know how much water a lettuce needs to stop it going to seed. I have planted several types over the past six months, but they either don,t grow very well or just go to seed.The soil has plenty of fertiliser and the wife turns on the micro sprinkler system each day for around 10 mins.The soil seems damp and i also use sugar cane mulch to stop the soil from drying out, I live in Queensland and the sun is on the lettuce best part of the day at the moment i have cos growing (for about six weeks) and one is just going to seed (feed that to the chooks) and the others look like they might be.The runner beans are doing very well and i have had some great spring onions as well, any help on this would be great.
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02 Apr 08, Abbie (Unknown climate)
Beer traps work well with snails and slugs - just cut a panel out of the side of a lidded yoghurt/margerine/sour cream plastic container, and as long as you leave an inch or so lip on the bottom of the cut out panel, you can fill the tub to the hole with beer, and put the lid on to keep the rainwater out. Check it every day or so - it can get quite full of slugs and snails so it will need to be regularly emptied and topped up - slugs and snails don't care what beer you give them - I found collecting the leftover dregs from BBQ's/parties to be the cheapest option, otherwise cheap beer is fine.
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01 Apr 08, Chris (Unknown climate)
Kellie, lettuce grow best in full sun, but cope with partial shade. Just make sure they have plenty of water and never dry out, otherwise they get bitter and tough, and rapidly go to seed.
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27 Mar 08, Kellie (Unknown climate)
What is the best position for growing lettuce. Ie: full sun, shade etc.
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13 Feb 08, Chris (Unknown climate)
If it's snails or slugs eating the lettuce, then culling them by hand on a damp evening can eliminate the problem for a few weeks - enough to let the plants get ahead.
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18 Jan 08, Jane Falzon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi some thing is eating my lettuce i have put snail bat down but that has't helped and i dont really want to use spray on them can you help
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03 Jan 12, Tim McGrath (Australia - temperate climate)
probably sparrows, bird net may help.
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Showing 251 - 259 of 259 comments
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Hi Tara, the planting guide says you can plant lettuce in the garden now but how well it does may depend on where you are located and how hot your weather will be. I had a similar dilemma because I live in SW Qld and we have really hot long summers. I tried sowing some seeds in January but they didn't germinate and I read in a gardening book that they will not germinate in temps over 28 degrees. The same book also mentioned that it is possible to germinate lettuces in the fridge so that is what I have done :-D. I now have cute little lettuce seedlings almost ready to plant into the garden (2 loose leaf varieties) and after a couple of cooler days in the last week I have found some of my previous lettuces have self seeded and I have more plants coming up in the garden! I guess i will find out if they survive or not! The biggest danger in the hot temps is that the plants may go to seed quickly meaning less lettuce to eat. If planting lettuces this time of year it is important to give them plenty of shade and lots of water on the hot days. If the plants still go to seed quickly it may be just too hot for them and you can learn for next year. As far as which varieties to choose you should avoid heading lettuces like icebergs because I have heard you won't get a good head on them if it is too hot. I am not an expert - I have only been growing veg for about a year - but you should consider doing what I did and buy some mixed lettuce seedlings from your nearest garden shop and keeping the seeds from the varieties you like the best! Alternatively if any of your friends grow their own you can ask them for a taste or any spare seeds. If you already have some seeds you can always give them a try and see what works best!! If there are any more experienced gardeners out there feel free to correct me if I am wrong!

- Kt

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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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