Lettuce
Lactuca sativa
A fast-growing leafy green vegetable with crisp, tender leaves. Lettuce comes in many varieties including butterhead, romaine, leaf, and iceberg types. It's a cool-season crop that thrives in spring and fall, offering mild to slightly bitter flavors depending on the variety.
Growing Guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing Lettuce
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Growing Guide for the UK
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Grow loose-leaf lettuce varieties for repeated harvesting of outer leaves over a long season.
1 Sow Seeds Outdoors
Sow seeds thinly in rows or containers from . Barely cover them with of compost, as they need light to germinate. Water gently and keep the soil cool; seeds won't germinate well if soil temperatures exceed .
2 Thin Seedlings
Thin seedlings to apart when they have their first true leaves, around . Use the thinnings as microgreens. This gives remaining plants room to develop.
3 Protect from Pests
Protect young plants from slugs and snails from . Use organic methods like beer traps, copper tape, or hand-picking in the evening. Check regularly, especially after rain.
4 Water Consistently
Water plants regularly to keep the soil consistently moist from . Dry soil can cause lettuce to bolt prematurely. Water at the base to avoid wetting the leaves, which helps prevent fungal diseases.
5 Harvest Outer Leaves
Start harvesting outer leaves from . Pick leaves when they're large enough to use, cutting them near the base. Leave the central growing point intact so the plant continues producing new leaves.
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.
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