Joe Mabel via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
garden
Lettuce
Lactuca sativa
Edible
Edible Partsleaves
Overview
The quintessential salad green. Cool-weather crop that bolts (sends up flower stalk) in summer heat, turning leaves bitter. Many varieties: butterhead (Boston, Bibb), crisphead (iceberg), loose-leaf (red leaf, oak leaf), and romaine. Loose-leaf varieties allow cut-and-come-again harvest for weeks of fresh greens.
Growing Conditions
LightFull Sun
MoistureModerate
Hardiness Zones2 — 11
Height0.3m
Spread0.3m
Growth HabitRosette annual
LifespanAnnual
Bloom ColorYellow (when bolting)
Pollinator Valuelow
Companion Planting & Soil
Good Companions
Avoid Planting Near
Soil pH6 — 7
Soil TypeLoose, moisture-retentive loam with high organic matter
Planting Calendar
When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.
| Zone | Action | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold (1-2) | Direct Sow | Apr — May | Sow as soon as soil is workable; tolerates light frost |
| Cold (1-2) | Direct Sow | Aug — Aug | Late summer sowing for fall crop |
| Cold (1-2) | Harvest | May — Jul | Cut outer leaves or whole head; harvest before flower stalk forms |
| Cool (3-4) | Direct Sow | Mar — May | Spring crop; succession sow every 2 weeks |
| Cool (3-4) | Direct Sow | Jul — Sep | Fall crop continues into early winter under cover |
| Cool (3-4) | Harvest | Apr — Jun | Cut-and-come-again harvest extends production |
| Moderate (5-7) | Direct Sow | Feb — Apr | Spring crop; bolts in summer heat |
| Moderate (5-7) | Direct Sow | Sep — Oct | Fall crop in cool weather |
| Moderate (5-7) | Harvest | Apr — May | Spring crop; cut whole plants before bolting in heat |
| Moderate (5-7) | Harvest | Oct — Nov | Fall crop harvest |
| Warm (8-9) | Direct Sow | Oct — Feb (wraps) | Cool-season crop in mild climates |
| Warm (8-9) | Harvest | Dec — Mar (wraps) | Winter harvest in mild climates |
| Hot (10+) | Direct Sow | Nov — Jan (wraps) | Winter crop only; needs partial shade if temperatures rise |
| Hot (10+) | Harvest | Jan — Mar | Winter harvest only |
Uses
Culinary
- Fresh salads — base for countless preparations
- Wraps and sandwiches
- Grilled romaine hearts for warm-weather salads
Medicinal
- Mild sedative tradition (wild lettuce, L. virosa, is stronger)
Other Uses
- Save your own seed easily — lettuce self-pollinates and breeds true
Safety Notes
Wild-harvested wild lettuce species (L. virosa) contain stronger compounds; cultivated lettuce is safe.
