(Best months for planting Lettuce in USA - Zone 5a regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

Lettuce offer a range of shapes, sizes and colours but they are all easy to grow. Choose a variety marked on the seed packet as suitable for the time of year as some do badly in the very hot months. Try to provide some shade to prevent them 'bolting' to flower and seed in the hottest months.

Sow in rows and use thinnings as small salad greens

Lettuce are shallow rooted so water daily in hot or dry weather to prevent bitter flavour. and bolting.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Lettuce

Wash well, spin or shake dry and use in salads and sandwiches

Your comments and tips

12 Apr 13, marlene (Australia - temperate climate)

is there any iodine/sodium in ice berg lettuces as Im on a low iodine diet ?

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04 Mar 13, Sheryl (Australia - temperate climate)

Has anyone had success growing Celtuce in South Australia? If so do you have any tips as there doesn't seem to be much information around. Sheryl

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19 Oct 12, Trudy (Australia - temperate climate)

Have tried to grow lettuce a few times from seed and bought plants. I do OK til it gets to summer when I really want them for salads. My vege garden is in full sun but these leafy things seem to suffer in the heat. Today was 34C. Silver beet is (OK?)... but do you think that lettuce would be better grown in a shade house to stop it going limp every day at lunchtime? Thanks Trudy

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13 Apr 13, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)

Hey Trudy, I am in the temperate zone also and have grown lettuce many ways. I have had some good fortune growing it in shallow pots as the roots don't go deep. Then on the hotter days I can move them to more shaded cooler areas.

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27 Dec 12, Wendy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I live in Bowen Qld., we have lots of warm windy days here. Grow all my leafy green veges in shade house. Works well. Got a good crop now. Pick off them daily.

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29 May 12, i.bresca (Australia - temperate climate)

only a few of my first plantings took off but now seedlings everywhere....need to space and plant....help running out of room ! also advice on chilli plants...chilli not hot at all. i did buy mild but this is silly !

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28 May 12, Rammi (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)

I m in the mediter see what is the bist kind to agriculture .

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02 May 12, alan (Australia - temperate climate)

put a couple of hand full of lime per square meter

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13 Mar 12, Russ (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi, I am trying to grow veg in old but clean broccoli boxes. They are not doing well at all, the Cos did not form a heart and went to seed. The Herbs are stunted. Collies and Broccoli are not doing much. I use good quality potting soil mixed with a bit of zoopoo. Water regularly and protected from the very hot sun when young. I just want to have the pleasure of growing a few veg. What am I doing wrong?

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11 May 12, Catherine (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Russ - it's all about feeing the soil and creating humus, as small boxes provide limited access to nutrients (even using good quality potting mix) because they get eaten up so quickly by the hungry plants. a worm farm or compost are perfect so you can feed the soil regularly each week as natural fertiliser. also - are the boxes draining from the bottom? when you water, the nutrients run straight out the bottom and the plants cant access them. You can build really simple self watering containers in old broccoli boxes... punch a few holes along a horizontal line, about 1/4 from the bottom of the box. then fill to this line with pebbles or gravel - this creates a water table where water will sit and if too much water is added it spills out through the holes. put the soil on top with lots of compost and worm castings, plant your vegies, and then mulch on top. this system allows the roots to reach water at the bottom, but stops the soil from being water-logged. it also allows you to mulch and build humus within the soil without draining it all away. I even water at the edges of the box so that the water goes straight to the water area without disturbing the humus to stop any nutrients draining away. i hope this makes sense! I read Jackie French's Soil Food Web book which was also really helpful. good luck!

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