How should you sow Iceberg Lettuce? You can start sowing lettuce seed indoors from January to September and transplant outside from April to October. Sow around eight seeds in a small pot or seed tray. Place them in a cool space to help the seeds grow faster.
Is iceberg lettuce cold hardy?
Iceberg lettuce is a cool weather crop that thrives best in temperatures between 50 to 65°F. It loves the cool nights of northern climates. If properly hardened off and established, the plants can handle hard frosts down to 20°F, but may have some leaf damage.
Can iceberg lettuce survive frost?
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.
What month is best to plant lettuce?
Lettuce seeds germinate best in the cooler temperatures of spring or fall. If it’s too hot, they won’t germinate. So, the best time to plant lettuce seeds is as soon as the ground is workable in very early spring, or once the temps start to cool down in late summer or early fall.
What is the latest you can plant lettuce?
If you are buying transplants (small plants) from a garden center or nursery, you may plant between 2 weeks before your last spring frost to 2 weeks after your last spring frost. In most regions, it’s possible to plant another crop of lettuce in the fall or even early winter.
When should I plant iceberg lettuce?
Sow indoors from mid Winter or directly in the garden after danger of frost has passed, and again after Summer heat has eased. Prefers cooler growing conditions as heat can cause the plant to bolt.
How long does it take to grow iceberg lettuce?
Crisphead varieties (which includes the ubiquitous Icebergs) take about ten to twelve weeks to mature, and should be harvested roots and all. Butterheads are similar to crispies, only smaller. They take about nine – ten weeks to be ready for eating.
What lettuce can you grow in winter?
Valdor (Butterhead) – Lettuce Valdor is one of the best winter hardy lettuces. You can expect solid heads of dark green, from this butterhead lettuce which can be cut in spring from these plants – protect outdoor lettuce plantings with fleece.
How cold can you plant lettuce?
How to Grow: Lettuce is a cool-weather crop that thrives in the temperature range 60-65 degrees F, and if thoroughly hardened, most varieties survive temperatures as low as 20 degrees F. Cold-adapted varieties survive much lower temperatures. Seed germinates best at about 75 degrees F.
Do I need to cover my lettuce for frost?
Lettuce is tolerant of cold temperatures for short periods of time, although growth will slow down. To protect lettuce in frost-prone areas, plant romaine or butterhead lettuce, which are the most cold-tolerant. When frost is predicted, cover the garden with sheets or towels to provide some protection.
Can I plant lettuce outside now?
For summer/autumn cropping: sow outdoors from late March to late July. For an even earlier crop, sow indoors in early February in seed trays and plant out in early March under cloches or plastic tunnels.
Can lettuce be planted before last frost?
Most cool season crops, like cabbage, broccoli, lettuce and many others, can tolerate a light frost and will grow best when sown a couple weeks before your last spring frost. Some, like peas and spinach, are so cold-hardy they can even be planted “as soon as the ground can be worked,” as many seed packets say.
How do you grow iceberg lettuce?
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.
What kind of lettuce can you plant in the fall?
There are four main types of lettuce: crisp-head (iceberg), loose leaf, butterhead, and Romaine (cos lettuce). All types can be grown in the fall garden, but look for cultivars with the shortest days from seed to harvest.
How do you grow lettuce year round?
To harvest high-quality salad greens almost every month of the year, you need to maintain a ready supply of young transplants. The only way to do it is to sow a pinch or two of seeds every week, either indoors or out. Start seeds indoors when it’s either too cold or too hot outdoors.
What type of lettuce is easiest to grow?
Loose leaf lettuce
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.
Can I grow lettuce all year round?
Salad can be grown all year round in a heated greenhouse, but this is rarely economical. A sunny windowsill or conservatory can be successful, provided it does not get too hot. In unheated growing conditions, sowing can begin as soon as light levels and temperatures allow, producing crops from late spring to autumn.
Why is my iceberg lettuce not forming a head?
Plants that are grown late into the season will face warmer temperatures, which prevent the formation of tight heads. If you find no head on lettuce a consistent problem, try sowing in late summer. The cooler temperatures of fall provide the ideal conditions for maturing seedlings to produce crisp heads.
Why is my iceberg lettuce growing tall?
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.
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.
What climate does iceberg lettuce grow?
Lettuce is a cool-season crop with distinct temperature requirements. The optimal growing temperatures are 73ºF (23ºC) during the day and 45ºF (7ºC) at night. Most California growing regions have daytime temperatures from 63º to 83ºF (17º to 28ºC) and night temperatures from 37º to 53ºF (3º to 12ºC).