Growing lettuce in winter is easier than you think! The key is to select frost-tolerant varieties and pair them with a season extender like a cold frame, mini hoop tunnel, or polytunnel.
How cold is too cold for lettuce?
Lettuce may cope with light freezing and even one or two hard freezes, but once the thermometer reads 25°F or below, the plants are in danger. That level of cold causes ice to form in the plant tissue, regardless of the amount of moisture in the air.
Can you grow lettuce in January?
January is a great time to plant seeds directly into the garden or in flats or pots to produce transplants. Garden lettuces can be divided into three classes based on habit of growth – leaf or loose-leaf types, semi-heading types, such as butterhead and romaine (or cos), and heading or crisp-head types.
Can I plant lettuce in December?
Considering the vegetables that you can plant in November and December, lettuce is the vegetable that can truly be grown anywhere there is light, soil and water.
What is the best lettuce to grow in winter?
A. Hi Joan, the best cold hardy winter lettuce varieties are Cos, Tom Thumb, Little Gem, Lamb’s Ear lettuce, Corn Salad, loose leaf varieties such as oak leaf green and red, mesclun winter greens, there is a hearting variety called Imperial Triumph that is cold tolerant.
How do you grow lettuce in the winter?
Growing lettuce in winter is easier than you think! The key is to select frost-tolerant varieties and pair them with a season extender like a cold frame, mini hoop tunnel, or polytunnel.
Can lettuce seeds survive frost?
Lettuce seedlings will generally tolerate a light frost and, unlike most vegetables, continue to grow through the fall when the possibility is a probability in some regions. That said, cold, clear nights may create frost damage in lettuce, especially if the duration of the cold snap is lengthy.
Does lettuce grow back after winter?
The plants will regrow, and you’ll get one or two more harvests out of that head. While lettuces are predominately a cool-weather crop, there are summer varieties that don’t disappoint. They’re so easy to plant, grow, and harvest that I try to have lettuces in my garden every season.
Can I grow salad leaves in winter?
Most winter salad leaves can grow outside in mild or temperate climates, but you’ll get more leaves if you can offer some protection from the weather, for example by growing salad leaves in a glass or plastic greenhouse, or under row covers. So here’s our pick of the hardiest and most reliable winter salad leaves.
How late can I 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.
What are good vegetables to grow in the winter?
These cold-weather champs are kale, spinach and collards. Other hardy vegetables include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, English peas, kohlrabi and leeks. Hardy root crops are radishes and turnip, which also yields some greens from the tops. Other hardy greens include kale, mustard greens and collards.
How long does it take for lettuce 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.
Can I grow iceberg lettuce in winter?
Plant the iceberg lettuce six to eight weeks before the last expected spring frost. Don’t plant the lettuce during the early winter or summer, or it will struggle to grow because of the extreme temperatures. If you don’t know when the last expected spring frost is in your area, look it up online.
Can lettuce be grown all year round?
website creator Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) – a reliable summer favourite, salad filler and sandwich staple! But it can be grown year round, with very little tender loving care after making sure that there is adequate feed.
Can lettuce survive snow?
Crops that can survive under snow—but not sustained freezing temperatures or ice–include asparagus, rhubarb, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cress, rutabaga, spinach, endive, horseradish, kohlrabi, kale, leek lettuce, onions, parsley, parsnips, radishes, and turnips.
What month should you plant lettuce?
The best time of year for growing lettuce is during cool seasons – spring and fall. Ideal temperatures are between 45°F and 80°F. For the first week or two after planting, protect newly transplanted lettuce seedlings if frost is in the forecast.
Where is the best place to grow lettuce?
Lettuce grows best in loose, cool soil with good drainage. The addition of organic materials, such as compost or manure, will increase drainage, provide essential nutrients and improve your lettuce growing conditions. If you’ve had trouble with lettuce growth, consider purchasing a soil test kit.
Do I need to cover lettuce for frost?
Even these cold-hardy greens will need some extra protection if frequently exposed to temperatures in the low 20s and teens. You can protect your cool season crops (including lettuce, which is more easily injured than other greens), by throwing a blanket or row cover over the plants.
How cold is too cold for seedlings?
32-33°F.
Seedlings, with their tender new leaves, often give up the ghost when temperatures dip to 32-33°F. Tropical plants have differing low-temperature thresholds. Some keel over when temps fall to 40°F; others crumble at 35°F. Other plants are just hardy by nature and can withstand temperatures as low as 18-20°F.
How cold is too cold for seeds?
If you’re wondering how cold is too cold for grass seed germination use our rule of thumb and check the weather reports. If the daytime temperature is below 60°F then soil temperature is below 50°F, making it too cold; if there is frost or still a danger of frost, then it’s too cold.
Will lettuce regrow if you cut it?
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.