When to plant Lettuce in Nottingham

Lactuca sativa

Lettuce
Lettuce · Lactuca sativa

Loose-leaf and hearting lettuce for the UK garden. Sow little and often for salad leaves, or start heading types indoors and plant them out. Give light shade in midsummer, and keep the soil evenly moist so plants do not bolt.

30 cm · Partial Shade · High Water

Add to garden

Calibrated to Nottingham · average last frost around 20 Apr

Sow outdoors March to September, harvest May to November. Typical frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow outdoorsNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNo

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Growing guide for

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

Grow loose-leaf lettuce varieties for repeated harvesting of outer leaves over a long season.

  1. 01

    Sow Seeds Outdoors

    30 Mar to 23 Sept Optional · repeat every 2 weeks

    Sow a short row from 30th March - 23rd September. Sow deep, water gently, and repeat every 14 days. Germination stalls in hot soil, so keep the seedbed cool and moist.

    • In midsummer, a little light shade helps stop plants bolting.

  2. 02

    Thin Seedlings

    13 Apr to 14 Oct Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Thin seedlings to apart once they have their first true leaves, around 13th April - 14th October. Snip the extras at soil level and eat them.

  3. 03

    Protect from Pests

    20 Apr to 7 Nov Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    From 20th April, protect plants from slugs and snails. Check regularly, especially after rain, and keep this up through 7th November.

  4. 04

    Water Consistently

    13 Apr to 7 Nov Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    From 13th April, keep the soil evenly moist. Dry soil makes lettuce bolt. Water at the base, and keep this up through 7th November.

  5. 05

    Harvest Outer Leaves

    4 May to 7 Nov Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Start picking outer leaves around 4th May once they are large enough to eat. Cut them near the base and leave the centre so the plant keeps growing. You can keep cutting through 4th May - 7th November.

Companion plants

Tap a plant to see why it works (or doesn't) with Lettuce.

Good companions

Plants to avoid

Why companion planting matters

Companion planting can deter pests, improve pollination, and make better use of space. Some plants confuse pests or attract beneficial insects; others improve soil or offer shade to neighbours that need it.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Lettuce to consider

Little Gem

A compact Cos variety with sweet, crisp hearts. Ideal for small spaces and containers, maturing quickly.

Tom Thumb

A heritage butterhead lettuce dating back to the 1850s. Produces tennis-ball sized heads with soft, buttery leaves and sweet flavour. Perfect for small gardens, raised beds, and containers. Matures quickly in 6-7 weeks. Cold-hardy and excels in spring and autumn plantings.

Lollo Rosso

A loose-leaf lettuce with frilly, red-edged leaves. Excellent for cut-and-come-again harvesting and adds colour to salads.

Iceberg

A crisphead lettuce forming tight, crunchy heads. Requires a longer growing season but stores well after harvesting.

Lettuce guides by town

See how Lettuce timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.