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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28 Jan 22, Anonymous of Bundaberg (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Without sunlight plants become thin weak and spindly. There are varieties to grow in summer and others to grow in Autumn Winter. I generally don't grow things from end of Nov to end of Feb because of the heat and summer conditions - heavy rain and wind.
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04 Feb 22, Smithy (Australia - tropical climate)
Lettuce struggles in heat. Finding the balance is not easy but all plants need sun
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02 Feb 22, John Mauger (Australia - temperate climate)
Lettuce grows best in cooler conditions. Varieties of lettuce that are grown in the summer (Great Lakes, etc) tend to be coarser textured and not quite as sweet as varieties grown in cooler weather. Because they are a leaf vegetable and not a 'fruit' vegetable they will tolerate less light. Morning sun up until late morning would be fine. Too much shade will make them weak and spindly. Trust this helps.
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04 Feb 22, Smithy (Australia - tropical climate)
Shadecloth covers assist in growing. Keep up the water.
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22 Sep 21, Ana Maria (USA - Zone 10b climate)
Is Sept 25th to early to start fall Lettuce in my zone 10b? San Felipe, baja, north.
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26 Sep 21, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Lettuce won't germinate if the soil temperature is too high, but if you can start them somewhere shady they might do ok.
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29 Aug 21, David (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Planning on planting tomato & lettuce together. Is this a good idea? Any advice would be appreciated.
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01 Sep 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Plant the lettuce on the northern side of the tomatoes or plant far enough away so that the tall tomatoes plants don't shade the lettuce. Lettuce need sunlight to fully grow.
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17 Jun 21, Harry C Carter (USA - Zone 10a climate)
Can I grow red leaf lettuce in zone 10 A (Cape Coral Florida)?
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21 Jun 21, Colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate)
Yes you can, but depending on how hot it gets where you are, you should choose a heat-tolerant variety or it will bolt too quickly. I recommend the red varieties of summer crisp Batavian lettuce. You should be able to get them at Swallowtail Gardens online if they haven't sold out for the season.
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Showing 31 - 40 of 259 comments
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Hi Russ - it's all about feeing the soil and creating humus, as small boxes provide limited access to nutrients (even using good quality potting mix) because they get eaten up so quickly by the hungry plants. a worm farm or compost are perfect so you can feed the soil regularly each week as natural fertiliser. also - are the boxes draining from the bottom? when you water, the nutrients run straight out the bottom and the plants cant access them. You can build really simple self watering containers in old broccoli boxes... punch a few holes along a horizontal line, about 1/4 from the bottom of the box. then fill to this line with pebbles or gravel - this creates a water table where water will sit and if too much water is added it spills out through the holes. put the soil on top with lots of compost and worm castings, plant your vegies, and then mulch on top. this system allows the roots to reach water at the bottom, but stops the soil from being water-logged. it also allows you to mulch and build humus within the soil without draining it all away. I even water at the edges of the box so that the water goes straight to the water area without disturbing the humus to stop any nutrients draining away. i hope this makes sense! I read Jackie French's Soil Food Web book which was also really helpful. good luck!

- Catherine

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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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