Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
What's a salad without lettuce? Lettuces are generally classified as butterhead, cos, crisphead and loose-leaved varieties. Butterheads form loose heads with soft leaves. They are generally easier to grow than the others, being tolerant of poorer conditions. The crisphead varieties include the various types of 'Iceberg', store well in the fridge and are more resistant to bolting in dry weather. The cos types, with a more upright habit, are often the tastiest. Finally, the loose-leaf varieties don't produce heads at all - rather leaves are picked a few at a time, leaving the plant to produce more. It's said about every crop, but the key to growing lettuces is to sow little and often to avoid a glut.
| Soil | |
|---|---|
| Stony |  |
| Light |  |
| Loamy | |
| Heavy | |
| pH | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Manure | |
| Previous crop | |
| Previous autumn | |
| Before planting | |
| Position | |
| Full sun | |
| Partial shade | |
| Shade |  |
| Exposure | |
| Open | |
| Sheltered | |
Sow indoors
sow indoors
Sow 2cm deep in pots or modules to avoid root disturbance while transplanting.
plant
Between plants: 25cm Between rows: 30cm
Lettuce don't like being transplanted so choose a cool, dull day when the plants have around six leaves, plant with the leaves just above soil level and keep well-watered while they establish. Watering is best done in the morning as daytime-watering is ineffective and may lead to scorching and evening watering may leave them damp overnight which could lead to mould. Always water at the base of plants, never on the leaves. Early March transplants may need a cloche or fleece covering, depending upon where you live.
harvest
All lettuce can be harvested on a cut and come again basis but if you want to harvest full heads, you will probably have to wait until around mid-May, early June. Pull up the whole plant then trim off the root and any damaged lower leaves. Don't leave them too long once firm heads have formed or they will bolt.
Sow outdoors
sow outdoors
Between plants: 30cm Between rows: 30cm
Sow at weekly or fortnightly intervals 2cm deep, protecting early and late sowings with cloches. Thin when large enough to handle to final spacing except for late-August/early-September sowings which benefit from being thinned to 7.5cm between plants for overwintering and then thinned to their final spacing in early spring, providing one of the first salads of the year.
harvest
All lettuce can be harvested on a cut and come again basis but can also be left to form heads. Pull up the whole plant then trim off the root and any damaged lower leaves. Don't leave them too long once firm heads have formed or they will bolt.
