CompositesAsteraceae

Lettuce.

Cool seasonDeer favorite
At a glance

The spec sheet.

Indoor start
Optional
Direct sow / out
Apr 1 – May 15 / Aug – Sep
Germ
5–10 days
Days to harvest
45–65
Spacing
6–12" depending on type
Depth
¼"
Square-foot
4 per square (loose leaf), 1 per square (head)
Qty target
Successions of 6 plants keeps continuous supply.

Plant

Direct sow or transplant. Successions every 2 weeks. Grows well in partial shade in summer.

Care

Consistent water — heat-stressed lettuce bolts fast and turns bitter.

Harvest

Cut outer leaves or whole plant at base. Cut-and-come-again with loose leaf.

Preserve

Fresh only — doesn't preserve.

Companion planting

What lettuce likes, and doesn’t.

Avoid nearby

  • Parsley (crowding)

Excellent for interplanting under tall warm-season crops like tomatoes for shade.