Butterheads are our favorite type of lettuce to grow indoors. They form a rosette of tender small leaves around a loose center. There are plenty of varieties that are tolerant of a little heat, and you can keep them producing for a long time.
What lettuce grows well inside?
When it comes to choosing seeds, some varieties are better suited to indoor growing. Look for loose-leaf varieties, such as Baby Oakleaf, Tom Thumb and Black-Seeded Simpson. Some varieties are known to grow well in winter light, such as Arctic King, Winter Marvel and Winter Density.
What is the easiest lettuce 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 you grow lettuce all year round indoors?
Whether you’ve run out of space in your garden or you want to grow lettuce year round, you can grow lettuce plants quickly and easily indoors. Because lettuce thrives in room temperature conditions with direct sunlight, it adapts well to indoor conditions and can survive with basic care.
What is the best way to grow lettuce indoors?
When growing lettuce indoors, don’t plant head lettuce close together. Planting lettuce seeds that will form heads close together prevents proper nutrient uptake. Instead, provide ample room between each heading lettuce. This could be one pot per plant or a location with at least six inches of room between plants.
When should I start lettuce indoors?
(Garden soil is heavier than potting soil, and will not drain adequately in a pot.) For a jumpstart on the spring garden, start lettuce seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your area’s last hard frost — which is around 28 degrees overnight.
Can I grow romaine lettuce indoors?
Yes! Romaine lettuce is a great choice to grow indoors due to its ease of growing and it’s relatively small space requirements. How Much Space Do I Need To Grow Romaine Lettuce Indoors? You can grow romaine lettuce in as small as a 4” container, but larger will yield more crop.
What is the best tasting lettuce to grow?
29 of the Best Lettuce Varieties for Your Garden
- Crisphead. Crisphead Great Lakes. Hanson Improved. Igloo. Webbs Wonderful.
- Butterhead. Bibb. Bronze Mignonette. Buttercrunch. Dynamite.
- Romaine. Cimarron. EZ Serve. Forellenschluss. Little Caesar.
- Loose Leaf. Black Seeded Simpson. Deer Tongue. Grand Rapids.
- Oak Leaf. Bronze Guard. Oakleaf.
What is the best tasting lettuce?
Romaine. If you’ve ever had a Caesar salad, you’ve had romaine, also known as cos lettuce. With a long, upright head of crisp, pale green leaves sporting crunchy midribs, romaine—particularly the lighter leaves toward the center (the heart)—is more flavorful than some other varieties.
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.
How do you grow lettuce indoors in the winter?
Bright grow lights or bright daylight window
If your natural light is dim in winter, provide supplemental lighting for baby greens. The full spectrum grow light should be placed about 4″ above the top of the leaves. I use lights to grow lettuce indoors in January, when the natural light is lacking.
Can you grow lettuce indoors without a grow light?
Provide at least 6 hours of Sunlight a Day
Lettuce plants need at least six hours of full sun a day. Some varieties are better suited for shade and can tolerate partial shade. The best types for growing indoors without additional artificial light are those that mature quickly and do not produce a long stalk.
How many hours of light does hydroponic lettuce need?
How Much Light Does Hydroponic Lettuce Need? Lettuce seedlings need around 18 hours of light during the day and six hours of darkness overnight to mimic outdoor conditions. The best way to provide this light is through fluorescent grow lights, which are ideal especially when you are first starting your lettuce garden.
What do you feed lettuce plants?
Feed lettuce plants every two weeks with a balanced water soluble or granular fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 or a 5-5-5, diluted to half strength. Look for a fertilizer in which the three numbers separated by hyphens are equal or almost equal.
How many hours of light does lettuce need?
How much light does Lettuce need per day: Indirect vs. Direct light. As shown in the table, most leafy greens grow well with at least 5 hours of direct light per day. This means 5+ hours of sunlight hitting the plant leaves is recommended for growing lettuce and other leafy greens.
Will lettuce grow back after cutting?
Head lettuce will die back, but most leaf-lettuce plants renew efforts to produce leaves, if regularly watered after trimming. Results will often be smaller than the original plant, but you may be able to harvest a second, good-tasting crop within as little as two weeks.
Which lettuce grows fastest?
Some of the fastest growing lettuce varieties include: Flashy Trout Back, Buttercrunch, Jericho, Green Saladbowl, Red Sails, Clearwater, Deer Tongue, Waldmann’s Dark Green, Tambay, Alboreto, Powerhouse, and Little Gem. All of these lettuce varieties will be ready for harvest in less than 6 weeks from planting.
How do you harvest lettuce so it keeps growing?
Plan to harvest your lettuce leaves in the morning, when they’ll be at their crispest. Cut the outer lettuce leaves about 1 inch above the crown. This protects the crown so the lettuce can continue growing. Cut off the amount of lettuce needed when the leaves reach a length between 3 and 6 inches.
How deep of a container do you need to grow lettuce?
Your pots should be at least six inches deep and have a drainage hole in the bottom. The ideal containers depend a bit on the lettuce variety you grow because the necessary space will vary. You can either direct sow your lettuce seeds in the pot or transplant seedlings into your pots.
How long does romaine lettuce take to grow indoors?
Smaller leaves make excellent, tender salad greens. Varieties that form heads, such as romaine and iceberg take longer to develop. Romaine needs 10 to 12-weeks; iceberg needs 10 to 14-weeds to mature.
How do I stop my lettuce from bolting?
Give your lettuce a break from full sun. Grow pots of lettuce on a porch or patio that gets some shade, plant it in the garden under taller plants, like corn, or use a shade cloth over your lettuce bed. Regular watering can also help delay bolting.