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 · last frost ≈ 20 Apr

Sow outdoors March to September, harvest July to November. Frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow outdoorsNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesNo

Growing guide

Step-by-step instructions for growing Lettuce

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 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

    10 Jul to 17 Jul

    Thin seedlings to apart once they have their first true leaves, around 10th July - 17th July. Snip the extras at soil level and eat them.

  3. 03

    Protect from Pests

    17 Jul to 7 Nov

    From 17th July, protect plants from slugs and snails. Check regularly, especially after rain, and keep this up through 7th November.

  4. 04

    Water Consistently

    10 Jul to 7 Nov

    From 10th July, 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

    31 Jul to 7 Nov

    Start picking outer leaves around 31st July 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 31st July - 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.