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Growing Lettuce

(lactuca sativa)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  S S P P P P P P      

(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.


  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden, or start in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks.. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 81°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 8-12 weeks.
  • Compatible with: Carrots, Onions, Strawberries, Beets, Brassicas, Radish, Marigold, Borage, Chervil, Florence fennel, leeks.
  • Avoid growing with: Parsley, Celery
  • Lettuce seedlings
  • Lettuce table-ready

Your comments and tips

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12 Dec 11, Randy (Australia - temperate climate)
Cos lettuce don't develop a heart like eg iceberg lettuce. Just keep taking leaves from the outside as it continues to grow.
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27 Nov 11, katy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, I planted 4 lettuces 9 weeks ago and they have grown into great little bunches. I pulled some of the other day to put in a sandwich and it was terrible bittery....help!! they are only planted next to tomatoes..
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13 Dec 11, Tracey (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Katy 9 weeks is a long time for them to only produce little bunches. For mild sweet flavour lettuce need to be grown fast - that is, plenty of water and plenty of available nutrients in the soil, including plenty of available nitrogen. Otherwise they can be quite bitter. Is it possible they got too dry or that the soil was not amended before they went in? Fortnightly feeding with something like worm tea can help if you're growing in containers or still building up your soil. Lettuce also tends to become bitter if it is going to seed, but if that's the problem you would be able to see the central flower stalk forming.
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13 Aug 11, Glenn (Australia - arid climate)
I am trying to identify which lettuces handle the heat better than others. We live in outback SA but we have plenty of water and I can erect shade, but I can't do much about the heat. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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14 Nov 11, JETset (Australia - temperate climate)
What part of Outback SA? If you look at the Diggers site (diggers.com.au) they have a few slow to bolt varieties. That is all I could suggest as I believe it is the heat which causes bolting. Goldrush and Flame are 2 you could try. I am in Adelaide and will probably have the same issue when it gets to late January. Cheers and Good luck
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07 Jun 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
Could be the white cabbage butterfly they are a common pest ,they can lay eggs which turn into caterpillars then butterfly ... They are a common pest ,,, can use a product called success and it is safe Dan. ( Perth Wa )
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23 May 11, jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have some Bok Choy and cos lettuce planted. Something is eating them, but the Bok Choy more than Cos. I'm presuming its not snails or slugs as dont they always leave a silver trail behind, of which there isnt any. I have several planter boxes on a table(like a school table) so high off the ground. Does anyone have an idea what types of bug could be doing this-I live in Melbourne's northern suburbs.
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30 Jul 11, Shona (Australia - temperate climate)
I would suspect possums.
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24 May 11, Geri (Australia - temperate climate)
I had Bok Choy in also and I initially had cabbage moth catapilliars on it...used some vegie dust and that seemed to do the trick...have eaten it and need to plant more...I am in Melb southern suburbs....good luck
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24 May 11, Angela (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Jenny, I had a similar problem. Thought it was snails or slugs but then one day found caterpillars on them. They were so small( less than 1cm) I didn't notice them at first, and because they are green they blended in with the colour of my asian greens. The plants were infested and i lost a few of them. Try looking for caerpillars - the cabbage moth type. - Angela
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I would suspect possums.

- Shona


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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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