How to Grow Lettuce

Overview

Lettuce is the cornerstone of any salad garden and one of the easiest crops to grow at home. With careful variety selection and successional sowing, you can harvest fresh leaves from spring right through to early winter. Cut-and-come-again varieties are especially productive in small spaces.

Health Benefits

Vitamins A and K: Lettuce, especially darker-leaved varieties, is a good source of Vitamins A and K, supporting eye health, skin integrity, and healthy blood clotting.

Folate for cell health: A useful source of folate, which is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division.

Hydrating and low calorie: With high water content and minimal calories, lettuce is a refreshing base for meals. Crisp, homegrown leaves picked minutes before eating are far superior in both flavour and nutrition to shop-bought bags.

Soil Preparation

Lettuce prefers fertile, moisture-retentive soil in a position that gets some shade during the hottest part of the day. Dig in well-rotted compost before planting. The ideal soil pH is 6.0 to 7.0. Lettuce has shallow roots, making it well-suited to containers, raised beds, and window boxes.

Sowing & Planting

Sow seeds indoors from February for early crops, or directly outdoors from March to August. Sow thinly in drills 1cm deep, spacing rows 25-30cm apart. Thin seedlings to 15-25cm depending on variety. Make small successional sowings every 2-3 weeks for a continuous supply. Transplant indoor-raised seedlings once they have 4-5 true leaves.

Care & Maintenance

Water regularly, especially during dry weather, to prevent bolting and bitter leaves. Mulch around plants to retain moisture and keep leaves clean. Lettuce needs relatively little feeding if the soil is well prepared. Protect from slugs and snails, which are the main pest threat.

Harvesting

Harvest cut-and-come-again varieties by picking outer leaves when 10-15cm tall, leaving the centre to regrow. Hearting varieties should be cut whole at the base when the heart feels firm. Pick in the morning when leaves are at their crispest, typically from May to October.

Common Problems

Slugs and snails are the primary pest. Use beer traps, copper tape, or nematode biological controls.

Bolting causes the plant to run to seed, producing bitter leaves. Keep plants well-watered and choose slow-bolt varieties for summer sowing.

Downy mildew appears as yellow patches on upper leaves and grey mould beneath. Ensure good spacing and air circulation.

Companion Planting

Lettuce grows well alongside carrots, radishes, strawberries, and chives, which can help deter aphids. Lettuce has few incompatible companions, making it a versatile interplanting option.