Lettuce seeds can be planted directly into the garden soil.

Sow the seeds directly into the garden soil beginning in early spring starting 2 weeks prior to the last frost-free date. 

Plant the tiny seeds 1/4" deep and later thin to 10" apart. Seeds can be planted every 3 weeks for a staggered harvest or once again in late summer for a fall harvest. Fall planting can occur 10 weeks before your average first frost date.

Build up a raised row of soil about 8" wide. Scatter the seeds in a line on top and then cover with 1/4” to 1/2" of soil. Keep the soil evenly moist. Lettuce seeds will germinate in 5-10 days depending on the soil temperature. Germination is slower in the cold weather of spring. 

Lettuce has shallow roots so gently mulch around it to deter weeds and retain soil moisture.

The ways to harvest lettuce include harvesting it as a baby green by picking individual young leaves, harvesting the outer leaves asneeded and letting the plants grow, or by harvesting the entire head by slicing it off about an inch above the soil.

Lettuce Little Gem

Little Gem is a cross between butterhead and romaine, giving it the unique trait of having romaine’s crunch with the sweetness and small size of a butterhead. It grows  8" high producing a sweet and compact heart that is the perfect size for individual salads and sandwiches. Lettuce is a cool-weather crop and is best grown in spring and fall. Little Gem stands up well to summer heat and is slow to bolt.       

Little Gem is a cross between butterhead and romaine, giving it the unique trait of having romaine’s crunch with the sweetness and small size of a butterhead. It grows  8" high producing a sweet and compact heart that is the perfect size for individual salads and sandwiches. Lettuce is a cool-weather crop and is best grown in spring and fall. Little Gem stands up well to summer heat and is slow to bolt.       

LETTUCE

Nothing tastes better than a fresh, crisp salad made with lettuce straight from the garden. Head lettuces are lettuce varieties that form together like a cabbage such as Romaine and Iceberg. Home grown lettuce tends to be higher in flavor and nutrients than the store-bought variety, and can be very easy to grow yourself. Lettuce likes a lot of water and prefers cool growing conditions, as it can bolt in higher temperatures. Keep an eye on your lettuce plants during warmer weather, if the leaves are wilting, you’ll need to move them to a shady spot immediately. Growing nasturtiums near your lettuce can naturally help keep damaging aphids away.

COMMON PESTS: Aphids, Earwigs, Slugs, Snails

SUSCEPTIBLE TO: Anthracnose, Downy Mildew, Powdery mIldew, Leaf Spot, Rot, White Mold