by Julie Bawden-Davis

Created on: November 02, 2010   Last Updated: November 20, 2010

Salad lovers will salivate at how easy it is to grow lettuce in the home garden. Fall is the perfect time to cultivate these succulent greens, which grow quickly in cool weather.

To successfully grow your own lettuce, there are some tips to keep in mind.

Choosing Plants

There are many lettuce types to choose from, including head and leaf lettuce, which come in a variety of shapes, colors and textures. Choices are more limited when you buy lettuce transplants, but when it comes to seeds you will find a wide variety of greens to crisp and color up your salad bowl like Black-Seeded Simpson, buttercrunch, Tom thumb, saladbowl and royal and red oakleaf. Or indulge in one of the mesclun salad mixes on the market. These baby greens are a common ingredient in salads at gourmet restaurants.

Select healthy transplants that are at least 3- to 4-inches tall, but no larger than 6-inches high. Avoid buying plants with dry tips, which indicates inadequate watering has occurred. Plants that experience drought tend to have shorter lifespans and may produce bitter leaves.

Planting Location

Plant in a sunny location in well-draining, fertile soil. Incorporate a 3- to 4-inch layer of compost into the soil.

Try containers

Lettuce is a shallow-rooted crop that requires a small growing area, which means you can grow it in a pot and place it right outside the kitchen door. A 24-inch half wooden barrel will provide a family of four with a steady supply of fresh lettuce. Just about any pot will do, as long as it has drainage holes.  

Planting

Plant transplants at the same level they are in their plastic container. To plant seed, sprinkle over a well-prepared bed and cover with ¼-inch of soil. Water thoroughly with a fine mist so as not to disturb the seeds. Keep the seed planting area covered with a humidity dome or plastic wrap to avoid the soil and seeds from drying out, which can be fatal to young seedlings.  Ensure a continuous supply of lettuce by sowing seed every two to three weeks from fall through mid-spring.

Watering

Keep the soil around lettuce moist at all times, but not overly soggy. Water when the soil surface is dry to the touch.

Fertilizing

Encourage new growth by feeding lettuce plants a high-nitrogen, organic fertilizer monthly. Nitrogen is important because it initiates foliage growth.

Pests

Watch for pests such as slugs, snails, earwigs and sowbugs. When possible, handpick troublemakers.

Harvesting

Lettuce is a quick grower. With leaf lettuce transplants, you can fill your salad bowl with young, tender leaves in just 15 to 20 days and with seeds 30 to 40 days. Expect to eat head lettuce 40 to 90 days after planting. Harvest head lettuce when small heads have formed. Pick leaf lettuce as soon as it is large enough to eat. Pinch or clip leaves, which will encourage new growth.

Learn more about this author, Julie Bawden-Davis.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.