Lettuce, Leaf
Lactuca sativa
Leaf lettuce matures quickly for repeated cut-and-come-again harvests in about 30–55 days from sowing. Cool soil and short days suit germination in as little as 2–10 days, while summer heat pushes plants toward bitterness and bolting unless succession targets milder shoulder seasons. High water need keeps leaves tender in containers or beds.
Plant family Asteraceae · Also called loose-leaf lettuce
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Sow little and often in cool weather.
Sow about 0.3 cm deep outdoors from six weeks before the last frost to two weeks before it, or start indoors 4–6 weeks before frost for transplants. Germination can be as fast as 2–10 days in cool soil.
Light frost tolerance allows early outdoor sowings with protection if needed. Resow about every 14 days for a steady supply of young leaves.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Pick outer leaves from loose heads.
Space 15–25 cm apart with rows near 30 cm for full plants, or sow thicker for cut-and-come-again beds. Compact classification fits containers and inter-row gaps.
Minimum container depth is 20 cm with about 5 litres of volume. Shallow salads bowls work when drainage is excellent and water is frequent.
Core measurements
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Allow for the mature form of the selected variety.
Install support early when it is required or useful.
Protect from heat-driven bolting.
Four hours of direct sun is the minimum. Afternoon shade sometimes extends quality in late spring before heat arrives.
High water need at 35–50 mm weekly with pH 6.0–7.0 keeps leaves tender. Dry soil triggers bitterness and early bolting.
Sunlight
Part sun tolerant (4+ direct-sun hours/day)
Soil pH
A suitable acidity range for general growth.
Weekly water
High water need.
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during establishment and harvest development.
Read quick maturity from sowing.
The 30–55 day range begins at sowing. Outer leaves can be harvested repeatedly, or whole rosettes can be cut at once for faster turnover.
Frequent small sowings align with the 14-day succession interval. Heat ends quality quickly, so plan autumn sowings when summer plantings fade.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Sow small batches frequently and harvest outer leaves for repeated picking.
Lettuce, Leaf growing questions
What is the difference between leaf lettuce and head types?
This profile targets leaf types harvested by outer leaves or whole young plants rather than tight heads.
How fast does lettuce seed emerge?
Germination is listed as 2–10 days, often quickest in cool soil.
Why sow lettuce every two weeks?
A 14-day succession interval spreads harvest because individual plants mature quickly.
Does leaf lettuce tolerate frost?
It tolerates light frost, allowing sowing several weeks before the last spring frost.
Profile values are crop-level planning ranges compiled from sources S1,S2,S3,S4. Local climate and variety can change actual results.
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