Planting Lettuce: A Guide for Salad Lovers

Introduction

Crisp, refreshing, and bursting with flavour, lettuce is the backbone of any good salad. Whether you prefer crunchy cos, leafy loose-leaf, or buttery butterhead varieties, growing your own lettuce means fresh salads at your fingertips throughout the growing season.

This guide to planting lettuce is perfect for salad lovers looking to grow a steady supply of leafy greens. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know—from selecting the best varieties and sowing seeds to caring, harvesting, and storing your crop for continuous, delicious results.

Why Grow Your Own Lettuce?

🥗 Incredibly fresh – Pick leaves just before meals for maximum flavour and nutrition
🌱 Fast-growing – Many varieties are harvestable within weeks
💷 Cost-effective – Grow for pennies compared to shop-bought bags
🐛 Fewer pesticides – You control how your food is grown
🪴 Space-saving – Ideal for pots, raised beds, window boxes, or borders

Best Lettuce Varieties for Salad Lovers

There’s a lettuce type for every taste and growing style. Here’s a breakdown:

Type	Examples	Features
Loose-leaf	Lollo Rosso, Salad Bowl, Red Oak	Quick to grow, cut-and-come-again harvesting
Cos (Romaine)	Little Gem, Green Towers	Crunchy, upright heads, great in Caesar salads
Butterhead	Tom Thumb, Bibb, Buttercrunch	Soft texture, mild flavour
Crisphead	Iceberg, Webbs Wonderful	Dense heads, very crunchy
Batavian	Sierra, Nevada	Heat-tolerant, slightly crunchy

Tip: Mix types for a colourful and flavour-packed salad bowl.

When to Plant Lettuce in the UK

Lettuce can be grown nearly year-round with the right approach:

Sowing Method	UK Timing
Indoors or undercover	January to March
Outdoors (main season)	March to August
Autumn sowing (for winter harvest)	September to October

Step-by-Step: How to Plant Lettuce

Step 1: Choose the Right Location

Lettuce grows best in:

Full sun to partial shade
Well-drained, fertile soil
Sheltered areas that protect from strong winds

In hot summers, partial shade helps prevent bolting (premature flowering).

Step 2: Prepare the Soil or Container

Lettuce enjoys:

Moist, rich soil with plenty of compost or well-rotted manure
pH of 6.0 to 7.0

Raised Beds or Ground Soil:

Add compost and rake to a fine tilth
Water the soil before sowing

Containers:

Choose a wide, shallow container with good drainage
Use multipurpose compost mixed with perlite or vermiculite
Water regularly to avoid drying out

Step 3: Sow Lettuce Seeds

Indoor Sowing:

Sow 1 seed per module or tray cell, 0.5cm deep
Keep in a bright, cool place (15–18°C)
Transplant when seedlings have 3–4 leaves

Outdoor Sowing:

Sow thinly in rows 30cm apart
Cover seeds lightly with soil and water gently
Thin seedlings to 15–30cm apart depending on type

Succession Sowing Tip: Sow every 2–3 weeks from March to July for a continuous supply.

Caring for Lettuce Plants

1. Watering

Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist
Avoid waterlogging but never let the soil dry out, especially in containers
Water in the morning to prevent mildew

2. Feeding

Lettuce is a light feeder
Use a diluted liquid seaweed or all-purpose feed every 2 weeks for leafy growth

3. Thinning and Spacing

Thin seedlings early to prevent overcrowding
Final spacing:
- Loose-leaf: 15–20cm apart
- Cos, Butterhead: 25–30cm apart
- Crisphead: 30–40cm apart

Protecting Lettuce from Pests and Problems

Pest/Disease	Symptoms	Solutions
Slugs and snails	Ragged holes, missing seedlings	Use beer traps, copper tape, or organic pellets
Aphids	Sticky leaves, curled growth	Use insecticidal soap or attract ladybirds
Cutworms	Seedlings cut at soil level	Use collars or keep soil clean of debris
Bolting	Lettuce flowers early, bitter leaves	Provide shade, keep soil moist, choose bolt-resistant varieties
Downy mildew	Yellow spots on leaves	Improve airflow, water early, avoid overcrowding

Harvesting Lettuce

Loose-Leaf Types (Cut-and-Come-Again):

Start harvesting 4–6 weeks after sowing
Snip outer leaves with scissors, leaving the centre to regrow
Can be harvested multiple times

Head-Forming Types:

Harvest when heads feel firm and well-formed
Cut at the base with a sharp knife
Remove outer leaves to reveal fresh, clean hearts

Tip: Harvest in the morning when leaves are crisp and full of moisture.

Storing and Using Lettuce

Short-Term Storage:

Keep in the fridge in a sealed bag or container
Store unwashed to prevent early wilting
Best eaten within 3–5 days of harvest

Washing and Preparing:

Wash in cold water to revive wilted leaves
Use a salad spinner or pat dry gently
Mix varieties for texture and taste

Creative Uses:

Classic salads
Lettuce wraps or taco shells
Stir-fried with garlic and soy
Smoothies (yes, really!) for a vitamin boost

Growing Lettuce in Containers or Small Spaces

Perfect for balconies, patios, or windowsills!

How-To:

Use shallow pots or troughs
Choose compact or loose-leaf varieties
Water daily in hot weather
Harvest frequently for continual regrowth

Bonus Tip: Interplant with herbs like parsley or chives for flavour and pest control.

Year-Round Lettuce Growing Tips

Spring to Summer:

Sow outdoors regularly
Use light shading in midsummer to prevent bolting

Autumn to Winter:

Sow cold-tolerant varieties like Winter Density or Arctic King
Grow under cloches, cold frames, or fleece tunnels
Ideal for mild winters or protected raised beds

Companion Planting with Lettuce

Good Companions:

Carrots – help break up the soil
Radishes – grow quickly and help space plants
Onions – deter aphids
Marigolds – repel pests and attract beneficial insects

Avoid Planting Near:

Cabbages and brassicas – may compete for space and nutrients

Crop Rotation and Aftercare

Rotate lettuce with legumes or root vegetables
Avoid replanting in the same bed for at least two years to reduce disease risk
Add compost or mulch after each harvest to replenish the soil

Conclusion

Growing your own lettuce is one of the most satisfying gardening experiences—quick, easy, and endlessly rewarding. With a little planning and care, salad lovers can enjoy homegrown greens almost year-round. Whether you’re sowing in a raised bed, pot, or windowsill, following this step-by-step guide will ensure fresh, crunchy, and tasty leaves on your plate whenever you need them.

Start with a variety of types, plant successionally, and remember: the more you pick, the more you get!