Lettuce

Lactuca sativa · Vegetable

A quick cool-season crop that is ready in weeks. It prefers mild weather and turns bitter and bolts in summer heat. Sow a short row every two weeks for a steady supply, or pick outer leaves and let the plant keep growing.

💧WaterEvery 1–2 days in warm spells; keep evenly moist (estimated)

☀️LightFull sun, shade in heat

🐾PetsNon-toxic

Care at a glance

Light: Full sun in cool weather; afternoon shade in warm
Water: About 1 in per week; keep soil evenly moist
Soil: Loose, fertile, moisture-holding, pH 6.0–7.0
Temperature: Best 45–75 °F; bolts above about 80 °F
Spacing: 8–12 in apart, rows 12–18 in
Container: At least 6 in deep; window boxes work
Harvest: 30–60 days from sowing (estimated)
Lifespan: Annual

When?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before your last spring frost, and again in late summer for a fall crop. In hot summers, sow in partial shade or skip midsummer sowings.

Step by step

Loosen the soil and mix in compost.
Sow seeds very shallowly, about 1/8 in, since they need light to sprout.
Keep the surface moist until seedlings appear in 7–10 days.
Thin seedlings to the final spacing; eat the thinnings.
Water little and often so leaves stay crisp.
Mulch lightly to keep roots cool.
Harvest outer leaves or cut whole heads in the cool morning.

Common problems

Plant shoots up and turns bitterBolting from heat or long days; sow earlier or later and give shade.

Holes and slime trailsSlugs or snails; hand-pick in the evening and use barriers.

Brown leaf edgesTip burn from uneven water or heat; water steadily.

Pets

Lettuce is generally considered safe for cats and dogs in small amounts. If in doubt, ask your vet.

Similar plants

Spinach Radish Carrot

Sources

ASPCA — Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants

This page is general guidance; no pesticide doses are given.