Lettuce

Lettuce grows best in moisture-retentive, well-drained soil with compost and a pH of 6.0-7.0. It needs moderate fertility and uninterrupted growth for tender leaves; afternoon shade helps delay bolting as weather warms.

Sun

Full sun to part shade

Water

Keep consistently moist

Spacing

8 in

First harvest

30–60 days

Tips

• Sow seeds about 1/8 inch deep in cool weather and thin leaf types to 6-8 inches or heading types to 10-12 inches.
• Keep the shallow root zone evenly moist with gentle watering rather than allowing it to dry out.
• Apply a light nitrogen side-dressing if growth is pale or slow and soil fertility is low.
• Check beneath leaves for slugs and remove them or use an iron-phosphate bait labeled for vegetables.
• Harvest outer leaves above the crown, or cut heads before a tall flower stalk develops.

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