Growing Lettuce

lactuca sativa : Asteraceae / the daisy family

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

(Best months for growing Lettuce in Australia - cool/mountain 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 46°F and 81°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches 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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22 May 18, Claudie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Lois, the only 'w' lettuce I can think of is Webb's Wonderful, which is a crisp-head type of lettuce, like iceberg. Could this be the one?
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21 May 18, colin (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Lettuce Green Mignonette is a possibility.
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21 May 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is it White Boston? If so The Seed Collection Company on the internet have it $1 for 200 seeds- but out of stock at the moment. You could try other seed selling companies on the net.
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03 Jun 18, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
Not sure if it qualifies as lettuce, but wombok?
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05 Sep 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Andrew - I believe Wombok is Chinese 'cabbage' and that: 1. there are different types of Wombok 2. Cabbage is a brassica Is lettuce a brassica? I thought not but I could be wrong. - Jane
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04 Jun 18, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
This is the page you need www.gardenate.com/plant/Chinese%2Bcabbage
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04 Apr 18, Eugenia Wen (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a question is that my letuce will not grow and it always is dying I always follow the step of growning a good letucd but is always dies please help Eugenia
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05 Sep 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Eugenia - What I have found (so far) is that older types of lettuce have grown better where I am where-as the softer leaf ones struggle. A purple coloured one died. I am trying butter crunch, and all seasons lettuce at present although our climates are different. I have drought. You have heavy rains. Not sure any of this will help. You could try different types of lettuce and see what happens.
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15 Oct 17, Garvin Johny (USA - Zone 11b climate)
I'm growing COS lettuce in the Caribbean where it hot and humid most of the year but according to Gardenate lettuce is not suitable for my climate.
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15 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
"The Caribbean's littlest islands follow a typically Caribbean weather pattern, with December to April the peak months (drier, cooler, less humid) – and September to October the most prolific for hurricanes, with rains starting in June". Dec to April might be the time to grow things - drier cooler less humid.
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Showing 31 - 40 of 195 comments
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I planned lots of lettuce (cos and ornamental/frilly? Red and green) early December and rhry have all bolted or not grown much. It is hot here in Perth. I tried snipping off outer leaves early but they were very bitter. Am i wasting my time growing lettuce in summer in Perth? Thank you. Debbie

- debbie

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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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