How to grow Lettuce

Want to know how to grow Lettuce? This guide provides tips on planting, watering, feeding and harvesting Lettuce.

Lettuce requires moisture retentive soil, with plenty of compost mixed in.

Lettuce is a cool season crop which grows best from autumn through to spring.

Loose Leaf lettuce grows best in full to part sun, however will also tolerate part shade. Headed lettuce, such as Iceberg requires a full sun position in order to form a head.  

Lettuce can be inter planted between larger crops in warmer seasons to shade it from the sun.  

No, Lettuce is not frost tolerant and will needs protection from frost. 

Space your lettuce plants roughly 25cm part. Spacing also varies depending on the variety of lettuce. 

Lettuce is a cool season crop, however can be grown all year round with the right care. Lettuce will need to be kept shaded in summer and protected from frost in winter.  

Lettuce plants are generally not heavy feeders, however a light application of organic liquid fertiliser can be beneficial throughout the growing season, particularly for larger heads of lettuce such as Iceberg.  

Harvest Lettuce leaves in the morning when leaves are cool, this is when they taste their best. Lettuce will also store in the fridge longer when harvested in the morning. Harvest the outer leaves as needed for a continuous harvest throughout the season, otherwise cut the plant off at the base or pull up from the root to harvest the entire plant. 

Pests that can affect Lettuce plants include: Aphids, Cutworm, Slugs, Snails, Leafhopper, Grasshopper, Armyworm, Flea Beetles, Grasshoppers, Leafminers, Thrips, Weevils, Darkling Beetles, Crickets, Corn Earworm, Earwig. 

Diseases that can affect Lettuce plants include: Leaf Drop, Downy Mildew, Mosaic Virus, Leaf Spot, Bottom Rot. 

Lettuce will bolt in warm weather (produce flower heads), bolting also causes the leaves to become tough and bitter.