Things You'll Need:
- Romaine lettuce seeds or transplants
- Compost or other organic materials
- All purpose vegetable fertilizer
-
Step 1
Find romaine lettuce seeds. Most home and garden stores and even grocery stores today are increasing their stocks of garden seeds. You can also search online garden stores for romaine lettuce seeds.
-
Step 2
Prepare a romaine lettuce garden bed and incorporate some organic materials into the bed for additional nutrients for the lettuce plants. Compost is an excellent organic material to use. Make sure the lettuce bed is located where the plants will get at least five hours of sun every day.
-
Step 3
Add fertilizer to the bed a few weeks before you plant the romaine. If you use a fertilizer, select an appropriate type for lettuce or garden vegetables. Read the directions on the fertilizer container before you buy it. If you are unsure, ask your nurseryman for a recommendation.
-
Step 4
Plant the romaine lettuce seeds. Directly sow the seeds in the prepared bed for best results. Although you can transplant lettuce, direct sowing reduces the chances of transplant shock that could kill the plant.
-
Step 5
Harden off transplants if you started the lettuce inside or bought lettuce plants. Transplant when the weather is cooler in early morning or evening to reduce the chances of shock.
-
Step 6
Mulch the area to keep it weed free. Lettuce roots are shallow and weeds will compete with the romaine lettuce.
-
Step 7
Harvest the romaine as a "cut-and-come-again" lettuce. If you pick the outermost leaves, the plants will continue to grow throughout the season. Most romaine lettuce takes 60 to 70 days from transplant to maturity. When the romaine is ready to harvest, use a sharp knife to cut the lettuce just above the base.
-
Step 8
Wash the romaine lettuce immediately and pat it dry. Wrap the lettuce in paper towels, place it in a freezer storage bag and refrigerate it right away.
