Buy lettuce plants at the nursery for planting when nighttime temperatures stay above

30 degrees F. Otherwise, sow seeds directly outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked in
spring (see "How to Plant Vegetable Seeds Outdoors").
2
Choose a site that gets full sun in cool-weather areas, partial sun in warmer climates or for
summer plantings. The ideal pH is 6.0 to 7.0 (see "How to Have Your Soil Tested").
3

Till the soil thoroughly, breaking up soil clumps and removing stones and other debris.
(Lettuce seeds are tiny, and any obstacle can hinder germination.)
4

Dig in plenty of compost and well-cured manure to ensure the kind of soil lettuce needs:
well-draining yet moisture-retentive, and rich in the nitrogen necessary for good leaf
development.
5

Set plants 8 to 16 inches apart, depending on the variety. (Check the plant label or a
comprehensive gardening book for mature size.) When in doubt, err on the side of distance
- crowded plants and poor air circulation invite disease and insect problems.
6

Keep the soil moist, but avoid watering in the evening: Foliage that stays wet overnight is
prone to disease. Mulch to conserve moisture and keep the soil cool, and feed every three
weeks with seaweed extract or compost tea.

 7
Ensure a full season's worth of greens by making successive sowings 10 days apart and by
choosing heat-resistant varieties for late-spring plantings and cold-resistant ones for
harvesting well into fall.
8
Begin cutting leaf lettuces as soon as they're big enough to use. Harvest heading types
when the heads are firm and fully formed.

Growing Lettuce in the Home Garden

HYG-1610-92
Marianne Riofrio
An ever-expanding selection of greens for salads in the supermarket, as well as salad bars
popping up in nearly every restaurant, is a reflection of the new health-conscious eating
habits sweeping the United States. Several types of lettuce can be grown in the home
garden adding variety, texture and color to the family diet.
Lettuce varieties can be loosely categorized into four groups: crisphead, butterhead, leaf,
and romaine or cos. Each group has its own growth and taste characteristics.

Types of Lettuce
Crisphead lettuce is probably the most familiar of the four. It is characterized by a tight,
firm head of crisp, light-green leaves. In general, crisphead lettuce is intolerant of hot
weather, readily bolting or sending up a flower stalk under hot summer conditions. For this
reason, plus the long growing period required, it is the most difficult of the lettuces to grow
in the home garden.
The butterhead types have smaller, softer heads of loosely folded leaves. The outer leaves
may be green or brownish with cream or butter colored inner leaves. There are several
cultivars available that will do well in Ohio gardens.
Leaf lettuce has an open growth and does not form a head. Leaf form and color varies
considerably. Some cultivars are frilled and crinkled and others deeply lobed. Color ranges
from light green to red and bronze. Leaf lettuce matures quickly and is the easiest to grow.
Romaine or cos lettuces form upright, cylindrical heads of tightly folded leaves. The plants
may reach up to 10 inches in height. The outer leaves are medium green with greenish
white inner leaves. This is the sweeter of the four types.

Suggested Cultivars
Crisphead

Mesa 659 (fall), Ithaca

Butterhead

Bibb
Salad Bibb

Summer Bibb

Buttercrunch

Tania

Tom

Thumb (miniature)

Leaf

Salad Bowl
Grand Rapids

Black Seeded Simpson

Slobolt

Oakleaf

Green Ice

Prizehead

Red Sails

Lollo Rosso

Ruby

Red Fire

Romaine

Valmaine
Parris Island Cos

Climatic Requirements

Lettuce is a cool-season vegetable and develops best quality when grown under cool, moist
conditions. Lettuce seedlings will tolerate a light frost. Temperatures between 45 F and 65
F are ideal. Such conditions usually prevail in Ohio in spring and fall. Seeds of leaf lettuce
are usually planted in the spring as soon as the ground can be worked. Butterhead and
romaine can be grown from either seeds or transplants. Due to its long-growing season,
crisphead lettuce is grown from transplants. Transplants may be purchased or started
indoors about six weeks before the preferred planting date.

Soil Requirements
Lettuce can be grown under a wide range of soils. Loose, fertile, sandy loam soils, wellsupplied with organic matter are best. The soil should be well-drained, moist, but not soggy.
Heavy soils can be modified with well-rotted manure, compost, or by growing a cover crop.
Like most other garden vegetables, lettuce prefers a slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5.

Cultural Practices
Since lettuce seed is very small, a well-prepared seedbed is essential. Large clods will not
allow proper seed-to-soil contact, reducing germination. Lettuce does not have an extensive
root system so an adequate supply of moisture and nutrients is also necessary for proper
development.
Fertilizer and lime recommendations should be based on the results of a soil test. Contact
your local Cooperative Extension office for information on soil testing. As a general rule,
however, apply and work into the soil three to four pounds of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 100
square feet of garden area.
Seed may be sown in single rows or broadcast for wide row planting. Wide rows should be
12 to 15 inches across. Cover the seeds with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil. Water carefully but
thoroughly. Several successive plantings of leaf lettuce will provide a more continuous
harvest throughout the growing season. Leave 18 inches between the rows for leaf lettuce,
and 24 inches for the other types. To achieve proper spacing of plants, thinning of lettuce
seedlings is usually necessary. Thin plants of leaf lettuce four to six inches or more between
plants depending on plant size. Butterhead and romaine should be thinned six to ten inches
between plants. Finally, crisphead transplants should be spaced 10 to 12 inches apart in the
row.
An organic mulch will help conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and keep soil temperatures
cool. If weeds do become a problem, either pull by hand or cultivate very shallowly to
avoid damage to lettuce roots. Planning your garden so that lettuce will be in the shade of
taller plants, such as tomatoes or sweet corn, in the heat of the summer, may reduce bolting.
Insect pests and diseases can occasionally cause problems on lettuce. For proper
identification and control recommendation, contact your local Cooperative Extension
office.

Harvesting
All lettuce types should be harvested when full size but young and tender. Over-mature
lettuce is bitter and woody. Leaf lettuce is harvested by removing individual outer leaves so
that the center leaves can continue to grow. Butterhead or romaine types can be harvested
by removing the outer leaves, digging up the whole plant or cutting the plant about an inch
above the soil surface. A second harvest is often possible this way. Crisphead lettuce is
picked when the center is firm.
The author gratefully acknowledges James D. Utzinger, on whose original fact sheet this is
based.