Seeds need light to germinate; sow at a very shallow depth by covering with a thin layer of growing medium. Sow seed 1/8 inch deep, 1 inch apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. When plants have two or three true leaves, thin to 12-inch spacings for crisphead varieties, 6 to 10 inches for other types.
Is Loose leaf lettuce easy to grow?
Loose leaf lettuce, which refers to varieties that don’t form any type of head, is considered the easiest to grow. It matures in 40-45 days, but no need to wait that long to enjoy it! You can start thinning (and eating the trimmings) in as little as three weeks.
How long does loose leaf lettuce take to grow?
You don’t have to worry about how to pick lettuce – it’s one of the simplest vegetables to harvest. Most lettuce can be harvested between 30 to 70 days after planting.
How do you harvest loose leaf lettuce so it keeps growing?
To harvest individual leaves, use a pair of scissors, garden shears, or a sharp knife to cut off the larger outer leaves near the base of the plant at the stem. Leave the central leaves intact and the entire lettuce plant will continue to grow.
Does loose leaf lettuce grow back?
Lettuce regrows once its leaves have been cut or picked off the main stem. As long as the root is intact in the ground and there are at least 1-2 inches of stem and leaves at the base, lettuce will shoot new growth in as little as a week. The cut-and-come-again harvesting method is the most popular.
How tall does loose leaf lettuce grow?
Leaf lettuce starts out as others do, but unlike head lettuces, its leaves separate from each other during the growing process, with plants growing to about 8 inches at maturity.
Does lettuce come back every year?
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), dill (Anethum graveolens), basil (Ocimum basilicum), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) are just a few examples of the many plants that can return to your garden each year by spreading their own seeds.
Does lettuce need full sun?
How much sun does lettuce need to grow? Most lettuce varieties enjoy full sunlight. For the best turnout, make sure you plant your lettuce in an area that receives approximately 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Some varieties can also be grown in partial shade, receiving 4 to 6 hours a day.
Does lettuce need a lot of water?
Lettuce has shallow roots, so plants need consistent watering. Check at least twice a week and water if the soil is dry down to 1 inch deep. Containers of lettuce need to be watered more frequently than garden beds, especially in the summer.
How do you know when to pick leaf lettuce?
You’ll know when to harvest lettuce leaves when they grow to about 3 to 6 inches long, depending on the variety. Keep harvesting the leaves until the lettuce plant “bolts.” This means that plant has turned its energy to producing flowers and seeds and leaves usually become bitter-tasting with tough stems.
What to do with lettuce when it bolts?
You can easily trim bolted lettuce with gardening shears or with a sharp knife, but since the lettuce will be bitter to eat, it’s best to just pull the plants out. You can then replant if it’s early enough in the season.
Will lettuce reseed itself?
Plenty of common edibles are excellent self-seeders – arugula, Oriental leaves such as mustard, lettuce and radishes all readily self-seed.
Can you grow lettuce indoors?
Grow a salad on a sunny windowsill or under grow lights
However, salad lovers can grow lettuce indoors, all winter long. Depending upon available sunlight, even urban gardeners can raise a steady supply of your favorite greens on a windowsill or beneath grow lights.
Is Loose leaf lettuce healthy?
Nutrition Information
Looseleaf lettuce (includes romaine, boston, redleaf, greenleaf, and butter-head varieties) is rich in Vitamin A, folate (folic acid), and potassium. It is moderately rich in Vitamin C and calcium. It is naturally low in calories, fat and sodium.
How do you fertilize lettuce?
Fertilize as often as every two weeks, with liquid fertilizer from a watering can, or granules scattered around the plants and watered in. Fertilizer helps plump up the leaves and chase away the bitterness so often found in garden-grown lettuce. And it helps keep it growing.
Can lettuce grow too big?
ANSWER: Lettuce plants that suddenly start stretching toward the sky and growing extra tall are likely to be bolting. In the bolting stage, a plant stops focusing so much on producing foliage and starts to turn its attention toward reproduction, sending out a flower stalk that will eventually dry to release seeds.
How deep does the soil need to be for lettuce?
Lettuce grows easily in containers, even alongside other plants, but needs at least 6 inches of soil depth to grow well. Because they have shallow roots, most lettuce varieties will grow well in long and shallow containers. They do need at least 6 inches of soil depth, so be sure to measure the pots you plan to use.
How many lettuce seeds are in a hole?
Determine how many seeds to plant – Outside, sow the seeds in rows 12-18″ apart. Indoors, plant one per hole for fresh seeds, or 2-3 per hole if they’re old. Plant the seeds – Sprinkle the seeds over the top of the garden soil or indoor trays, or plant them no more than 1/4″ deep.
What is the best soil for lettuce?
Lettuce does best in a loose, well-drained soil, with regular watering and adequate nitrogen. Whether your soil is heavy clay or a light sandy type, the incorporation of compost will often improve the growing conditions.
Does lettuce survive winter?
Lettuce can usually tolerate at least a couple of hard frosts, especially if you’ve taken steps to harden off the seedlings and keep the soil warm. A light freeze is defined as any time temperatures are in the 28 to 32°F range, and a hard freeze occurs below 28°F.
How long does lettuce take to grow?
Most lettuce varieties mature in 45 to 55 days, allowing many gardeners to plant two or even three crops. But looseleaf and butterhead leaves can be harvested at just about any time in their development. Heading varieties take longer to mature. Romaine takes 75 to 85 days and crisphead 70 to 100 days.