Seed to Harvest Growing Guide
How to grow lettuce
A practical guide to sowing crisp cool-season lettuce, maintaining tender leaves, preventing bolting, and harvesting baby greens, outer leaves, or full heads.
Botanical name: Lactuca sativa
Before you begin
Choose the harvest style before spacing.
Lettuce is a cool-season crop that can be grown as dense baby greens, cut-and-come-again leaf lettuce, or widely spaced full heads. Heat and long days trigger bitter flavor and bolting.
Build your lettuce-growing plan
Plan the cool window, harvest style, plant count, and first picking.
Reserve a sunny bed and time the crop so established plants produce through cool weather.
Lettuce at a glance
The path from seed to harvest
Select any milestone to jump directly to its full instructions.
Stage 1–3
Direct sow or transplant, then protect the growing point
Lettuce establish readily from seed or young transplants and need room to build an open crown of broad leaves.
Prepare a cool, fertile bed
Choose sun in cool weather or light afternoon shade as heat builds, with fertile well-drained soil.
- Use a soil test to guide fertility.
- Rotate lettuce beds for disease control.
- Prepare fine soil for shallow seed.
Sow indoors or outside
Sow 1/8 inch deep. Start transplants 4–6 weeks early, or direct sow once the bed is workable for a spring or fall crop.
Harden and transplant
Gradually acclimate seedlings, then set them out about 2–3 weeks before the last spring frost.
- Space plants 6–12 inches apart.
- Leave 12–18 inches between rows.
- Plant at the same depth or slightly deeper than the cell.
- Water immediately and protect from wind.
Stage 4
Keep new leaves coming steadily
Even moisture, moderate fertility, shallow weed control, and an intact crown support repeated harvests.
Water evenly
Supply about 1–2 inches of water per week, including rain. Drought makes leaves tough and slows regrowth.
Feed by soil test
Build fertile soil before planting and side-dress as recommended, especially after repeated leaf harvests.
Keep roots cool
Mulch after the soil warms to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and moderate temperature swings.
Scout every leaf
Look inside the crown and beneath leaves for aphids, slugs, mildew, and early bolting.
Growth checkpoints
Know what to watch for.
Use leaf count, plant height, and leaf texture—not only the calendar—to judge progress.
Emergence
Seedlings appear with narrow cotyledons; provide strong light and even moisture.
Transplant ready
Harden compact plants gradually before moving them into the garden.
First leaf harvest
Outer leaves reach useful size while the top crown remains actively growing.
Repeat harvest
Pick low outside leaves and always leave at least four leaves at the top.
Stage 5
Diagnose lettuce problems early
Open a symptom to compare what you see, likely causes, and the next practical check.
PestAphidsColonies hidden in curled inner leaves
Inspect the crown and leaf undersides, wash off small colonies, conserve lady beetles and lacewings, and remove heavily infested leaves before populations spread.
PestSlugsRagged holes and silvery trails near soil
Remove hiding places, water early, handpick after dusk, and use an appropriate labeled bait when needed. Keep leaves off wet soil with clean mulch.
DiseaseDowny mildewAngular yellow patches with gray-white growth beneath
Improve airflow, water soil rather than leaves, avoid working wet plants, remove infected residue, rotate crops, and choose resistant varieties when locally recommended.
Growth problemBoltingCentral stalk elongates and leaves turn bitter
Plant during cool weather, use shade cloth or afternoon shade as temperatures rise, water consistently, select slow-bolting varieties, and harvest promptly once stems begin stretching.
Stage 6
Pick tender outer leaves and keep the crown growing
Begin once leaves are a useful size—often under 10 inches for the most tender texture—or cut the whole young plant at 6–10 inches tall.
- Pick low: Remove the oldest outside leaves first with a clean knife or downward pull.
- Protect: Leave the stem, growing point, and at least four top leaves intact.
- Cool: Refrigerate promptly in a perforated bag and use within about one week.
Choose with purpose
Find the right lettuce for your garden
Compare plant size, bolt resistance, heat tolerance, leaf texture, and harvest style.
Questions gardeners ask
Lettuce growing FAQ
Quick answers for timing, sowing, spacing, bolting, repeated picking, harvest, and storage.
When should lettuce be planted?
Plant for cool spring or fall weather. Sow successions while temperatures remain mild and select slow-bolting varieties as days warm.
Should lettuce be direct sown or transplanted?
Both work. Start transplants 4–6 weeks ahead, or direct sow 1/8 inch deep and thin once true leaves form.
How deep should lettuce seed be planted?
Sow about 1/8 inch deep in moist, finely prepared soil. Deep planting can reduce emergence.
How far apart should lettuce be spaced?
Space full plants 6–12 inches apart with rows about 12–18 inches apart. Baby-leaf crops can be much closer.
Does lettuce need full sun?
Sun is best in cool weather, while light afternoon shade can reduce heat stress as temperatures rise.
Why is lettuce not germinating?
Seed may be too deep, allowed to dry, or exposed to soil that is too warm. Sow shallowly and keep the surface cool and moist.
Why is lettuce bolting?
Heat, long days, drought, and transplant stress can trigger stem elongation and bitter leaves. Harvest promptly and replant for a cooler window.
Can lettuce survive frost?
Established lettuce tolerates light frost, but severe freezes damage tender leaves. Protect young plants and harvest before hard cold.
How is leaf lettuce harvested repeatedly?
Pick outer leaves first or cut above the growing point, leaving the center intact for regrowth.
How much water does lettuce need?
Provide roughly 1–2 inches weekly, including rain, adjusting for soil and weather. Uniform moisture keeps leaves crisp.
When is lettuce ready to harvest?
Harvest baby leaves at the desired size, outer leaves while tender, or mature heads at the variety’s listed 40–50 day window.
How should harvested lettuce be stored?
Cool leaves promptly, dry them well, and refrigerate in a perforated bag. Use within about one week for best quality.
Ready to plant?
Choose lettuce for your garden.
Compare maturity, plant size, bolt resistance, heat tolerance, and packet size.