Things You'll Need:
- Lettuce seeds
- Compost
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Step 1
Prepare the soil by digging in organic compost about 2 weeks before planting. Lettuce grows in many types of moist soil but it should be nitrogen rich, if possible.
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Step 2
Determine what type of lettuce plants to grow. There are four main types of lettuce. Butterhead varieties are small soft and round, like Buttercrunch. Romaine lettuces are sometimes called cos. These plants are tall, slim, and non-heading, like the Braveheart variety. Loose leaf lettuces have no heart, just leaves (like Black Seeded Simpson or Red Salad Bowl). Lastly, crisphead lettuces are more familiar to most people. They are crunchy with dense, round heads, like Iceberg. While this may seem like a lot, choice depends on personal taste or even looks. It is no trouble to grow several different varieties in one bed.
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Step 3
Lettuce seeds should be planted shallowly because they need light to germinate. Direct seeding is best, so broadcast a moderate scattering of seeds over the plot and water them in. When they begin to grow, thin them so that the plants are 10-12 inches apart. (The thinning make excellent salad greens.) Don’t sow the whole plot at once; rather plant a small patch of lettuce seeds each week to ensure a manageable but continuous harvest. Lettuce plants prefer cool weather and seldom germinate in soil temperature that is over 80 degrees.
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Step 4
Keep well watered, especially in the week before harvest. If not, lettuce plants can become bitter.
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Step 5
To harvest, pull off the outer leaves of non-heading lettuce as needed. For head lettuce, wait until the plant has formed a compact ball in the center.
