Grow lettuce in cool weather, in soil that stays evenly moist, and in full sun or afternoon shade once the heat builds so the leaves stay mild. Garden lettuce is Lactuca, not the floating pond plant sold as water lettuce.
Give it cool weather, even moisture, and sun or afternoon shade in heat
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Full sun in spring and fall. Once nights stay warm, give it afternoon shade so the leaves stay mild | Do not leave it in hot, unshaded afternoon sun if you still want a mild leaf |
| Water | Keep the soil evenly moist after it is up. A dry spell in heat makes the plant flower early | Do not leave the roots in soggy soil |
| Soil | Fertile loam that stays moist and drains | Do not grow it in dry, hungry ground in heat if you still want a leaf crop |
| Feed | Compost in the bed is enough for this fast salad green | Do not keep it starved and dry in midsummer if leaf is still the crop |
lettuce wants a cool stretch of spring or fall, not the hottest midsummer bed. Full sun is fine while nights stay mild; once heat builds, afternoon shade keeps the foliage going longer. [1] Keep the soil evenly moist, never soggy, because a dry week in heat is what sends up the flower stalk and turns the leaves bitter. [2] If you are sowing this spring, the seed depth and spacing are on Planting Lettuce. Leaves for the kitchen are on Harvesting Lettuce. A patio pot is on Lettuce in Pots.
- Set it in full sun in cool weather. Once nights stay warm, give it afternoon shade so the plant does not rush into flower. [3]
- Water enough to keep the soil evenly moist. Do not let the bed dry out in heat if you still want leaf, and do not flood the roots. [4]
- Skip heavy feeding. Compost in the bed is enough; dry, hungry soil in heat makes the leaves harsh and sends up a flower stalk sooner.
How much sun does lettuce need?
Full sun in cool weather, at least six hours. Once nights stay warm, give it afternoon shade so heat does not bolt it as fast.
How often should I water lettuce?
Keep the soil evenly moist after it is up. A dry spell in heat makes the plant flower early. Do not leave the roots in standing water.
Not water lettuce — and not wild lettuce
Garden lettuce is Lactuca, a cool-season annual with a low rosette of edible leaves. Water lettuce is Pistia, a floating pond plant, not a salad crop. Wild lettuce is a prickly roadside weed with a milky sap, not the plant on a seed packet. Arugula is Eruca, a peppery salad leaf — see How to Grow Arugula. Cabbage is Brassica, a heading crop — see How to Grow Cabbage. Chicory is Cichorium, a bitter green — see How to Grow Chicory. Mâche, sold as corn salad, is a different cool green, not this species.
Is water lettuce the same plant?
No. Water lettuce is Pistia, a floating pond plant. This crop is Lactuca, the garden salad green. Wild lettuce is a prickly roadside weed, not a seed-packet salad crop.
Set it in cool weather in soil that stays evenly moist, give it sun or afternoon shade in heat, and confirm the tag is garden lettuce, not water lettuce.
FAQ
Is there more than one kind of lettuce?
Leaf, romaine, butterhead, and crisphead are all this one species. Read the packet for the habit you want. Those shop names are not a second plant.
Will lettuce come back next year?
No. This plant is an annual. Seed that drops can sprout in cool weather, so a new row may appear on its own if you leave a flower stalk. That is a new plant, not the same one coming back.
Is celtuce a different plant?
No. Celtuce, or stem lettuce, is the same species grown for a thick stem. It is not a second salad plant.
Can I plant lettuce next to tomatoes?
Yes. It is a fast leaf that can sit at the feet of a taller crop so afternoon shade comes as the heat builds. Heat still bolts it, so keep cutting while the weather stays cool.
Can the sap irritate skin?
The milky sap can irritate skin on some people. Wash it off if it gets on you. That is not a reason to skip a salad crop.
Is lettuce toxic to dogs?
This salad green is not listed as toxic. Keep pets from grazing the bed if you want the leaves for the kitchen.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lactuca-sativa/ - [2] University of Maryland Extension -
https://www.extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-lettuce-home-garden - [3] Old Farmer's Almanac -
https://www.almanac.com/plant/lettuce - [4] Bonnie Plants -
https://bonnieplants.com/blogs/how-to-grow/growing-lettuce
This note is part of Lactuca Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors