How to grow Lettuce
Updated October 2026
Lettuce is one of the quickest and easiest crops, and a few short rows sown every couple of weeks give salad for months. It is a cool-season plant: grow it in spring and fall in the North and from fall through late winter in Florida and the South, as heat makes it bitter and sends it to seed.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Lettuce: When to Plant Lettuce in Your US Region
Where to plant
Lettuce grows best in full sun, in fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, and in cool weather below about 75°F. Hot weather slows growth, makes leaves bitter and triggers bolting. In warm spells, light afternoon shade helps.
Seed can be sown once the soil reaches 40°F, but it germinates best at 55 to 65°F and poorly above 80°F, which is why summer sowings often fail.
- Florida: sow from September to February in Central and South Florida. For North Florida, UF/IFAS lists February and March. UF/IFAS notes that leaf types grow well in Florida, but crisphead (iceberg) types should be grown only in the coolest months.
- The Gulf South, Texas, the Desert Southwest and Southern California: sow from fall through late winter.
- The Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic and Southern Plains: sow in late winter to early spring and again from late summer.
- The Northeast, Midwest, Northern Plains, Mountain West, Pacific Northwest and Alaska: sow 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost, set transplants out near the last frost date, and sow a fall crop 50 to 75 days before you want to harvest.
Choosing a variety
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Leaf | Quickest and easiest, picked leaf by leaf; for example 'Black Seeded Simpson', 'Red Sails', 'Salad Bowl' and 'Oakleaf' |
| Butterhead | Soft, loose heads; for example 'Buttercrunch' |
| Romaine (cos) | Upright, crisp heads |
| Crisphead (iceberg) | Firm heads that need the longest cool season; for example 'Great Lakes' and 'Summertime' |
How to plant
- Sow seed 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep; lettuce seed needs light to germinate, so in warm weather sow it very shallow and keep it moist.
- Thin seedlings when they have 3 or 4 true leaves. Eat the thinnings, or replant them with some roots attached.
- Space head lettuce 8 to 12 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Leaf lettuce can be closer.
- For transplants, grow seedlings for 5 to 6 weeks until they have 4 to 6 leaves.
- Sow a short row every 2 to 3 weeks for a steady supply.
Watering and feeding
Water regularly, about 1 to 2 inches a week, and keep the soil evenly moist. Dry spells make leaves tough and bitter and slow heading, and alternating wet and dry periods cause tipburn, browning at the edges of inner leaves. Mulch keeps the soil cool and moist.
Work compost or fertilizer into the bed before sowing, and side-dress lightly with nitrogen about 4 weeks after transplanting or thinning to keep growth quick and tender.
Pruning and care through the year
- Keep weeds down, as lettuce competes poorly. Close spacing helps shade out weeds.
- Use fabric row cover to protect seedlings from frost and flea beetles.
- Rotate lettuce around the garden from year to year to limit diseases.
Harvesting
Pick leaf lettuce any time once leaves form, taking the outer leaves first so the center keeps growing, until a seed stalk appears. Cut butterhead and romaine as the heads begin to form, and crisphead when the heads are firm.
Harvest in the cool of the morning and refrigerate. Lettuce keeps 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Growing in pots
Leaf lettuce is ideal for pots, window boxes and raised beds. Use a container with drainage holes and good potting mix, keep it moist, and move it into light shade in warm weather.
Companion planting
Lettuce is small and quick, so it can be tucked between slower crops and harvested before they need the space.
Good companions
- Carrot Slow to fill its row, leaving room for a quick lettuce crop between.
- Radish Another fast crop for the same cool weather.
- Chives A low perennial herb that can edge a lettuce bed.
- Onion Takes little space and grows in the same season.
- Strawberry A traditional pairing for a low, mixed bed.
- Marigold Its flowers bring in pollinators and beneficial insects.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to lettuce.
- Parsley Traditional advice keeps the two apart.
Pests and diseases
Most lettuce grows too fast to suffer much. Slugs and aphids are the main pests.
Pests to watch for
- Slugs Ragged holes in leaves and slime trails after damp nights.
- Aphids Green or black clusters under leaves and in the heart, with curled leaves.
- Flea beetles Tiny holes in seedling leaves.
Diseases to watch for
- Downy mildew Pale yellow angular patches on older leaves with white growth beneath in cool, damp weather.
- Sclerotinia Wilting plants with a soft, slimy rot and white mold at the base.
Common questions
Why is my lettuce bitter?
Heat and dry soil. Lettuce turns bitter when temperatures climb above about 75°F or when it runs short of water. Grow it in the cool seasons, water evenly, and pick it young.
Why won't my lettuce seed germinate?
Soil that is too warm is the usual reason; germination drops off above 80°F. Lettuce seed also needs light, so sow it very shallow and keep it moist. In summer, sow in the evening or start seed indoors.
When should I plant lettuce?
In the North, sow 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost and again in late summer. In Central and South Florida sow from September to February. Check the calendar on this page for your region.
How do I keep lettuce from bolting?
Grow it in cool weather, keep the soil moist, give it light afternoon shade in warm spells, and sow small amounts often so you always have young plants.
What causes brown edges inside lettuce heads?
That is tipburn, a disorder linked to uneven watering. Keep the soil evenly moist through the season.
Can I grow iceberg lettuce in Florida?
Only in the coolest months. UF/IFAS recommends leaf lettuce types for Florida, which grow much more reliably.
Sources we checked: Utah State University Extension: How to Grow Lettuce in Your Garden; UF/IFAS EDIS: Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (VH021).
More guides for lettuce
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