Growing Lettuce

lactuca sativa : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S S S              
      T T T            
      P P P            

(Best months for growing Lettuce in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • 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 8°C and 27°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 cm apart
  • Harvest in 8-12 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, Onions, Strawberries, Beets, Brassicas, Radish, Marigold, Borage, Chervil, Florence fennel, leeks.
  • Avoid growing close to: Parsley, Celery

Your comments and tips

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20 Aug 19, Graham (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi I'm totally new to any kind of growing and am currently experimenting with a hydroponic setup But having trouble getting lettuce seeds started. Had no problems with previous 3 attempts but this time the seeds are doing nothing. Not sure if its the time of year or something else........ Any advice would be appreciated GD
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21 Aug 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Wait until this present cold weather passes and we have warmer nights. With spring only a week or two away temps should start to rise a bit, then try again. Lettuce need light to germinate. Keep soil moist and use a fine light watering.
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15 Aug 19, Karen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Can you get Butter Lettuce seed in Australia? I'm find it hard to find or is it known by another name
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18 Aug 19, Nicole (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Karen, I recently bought Butter lettuce seeds from my local Bunnings! And have had great crops right through winter, just direct sew into garden and pick young leaves to thin them out. I'm in Perth. Regards Nicole
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16 Aug 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It is called buttercrunch lettuce. Try BOONDIE seeds on the internet.
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19 Aug 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My apologies - I looked up Boondie seeds and they also have butterhead - there may be more. A suggestion - line a Styrofoam box with some paper or shade cloth on the bottom and fill with soil/potting mix/compost and plant the seeds very close - like 100-200 seeds. Water very carefully until they germinate and keep moist. When they grow you can just trim a few off above the heart of the plant and then let them regrow. Just cut enough at a time for a meal or 3.
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30 Jul 19, karen spenser (Australia - temperate climate)
can llettuse grow neer a potato and can you put camicals on it and feed it to your kids
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20 May 18, Heather (Australia - temperate climate)
I’m in the southern highlands and I can’t seem to grow iceberg lettuce??? Any suggestions why
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21 May 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
You have indicated temperate and it says plant all year. Cool / Mountain is Sept to May. Do you receive all day sun. They need lots of sun. If still no good suggest you grow another variety.
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18 May 18, lois (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
i am from united states and I SAW OMNLINE ABOUT A CERTAIN KIND OF LETTUCE GROWN IN AUSTRALIA AND I CANNOT FIND OUT WHERE TO GET ANY. IT STARTS WITH A W,CAN YOU HELP ME. I HAD IT WRITTEN DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER BUT CANNOT FIND IT NOWM CAN YOU HELP?
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Hi Karen, I recently bought Butter lettuce seeds from my local Bunnings! And have had great crops right through winter, just direct sew into garden and pick young leaves to thin them out. I'm in Perth. Regards Nicole

- Nicole

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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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