How to Grow Romaine Lettuce

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

I Did This Rate: (6 Ratings)

If you search the supermarkets and farm markets today, there is an increasing variety of lettuce available. One of those types of lettuce is nutritious romaine lettuce. Grow your own romaine lettuce in the garden to save money at the grocery store.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Romaine lettuce seeds or transplants
Compost or other organic materials
All purpose vegetable fertilizer

Step1

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.

Step2

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.

Step3

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.

Step4

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.

Step5

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.

Step6

Mulch the area to keep it weed free. Lettuce roots are shallow and weeds will compete with the romaine lettuce.

Step7

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.

Step8

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.

Tips & Warnings

Plant romaine lettuce near tall-growing flowers or plants to give it some shade during the hotter months and help protect it from wilting and bolting (or flowering).