🥬 Lettuce

Lactuca sativa
Crunchy water that bolts the second it gets warm.
Sun
Full sun to part shade; afternoon shade in heat
Days to harvest
45–60 days; 25–30 for baby leaf
Spacing
6–12 inches depending on type; cut-and-come-again can be denser
Soil pH
6.0–7.0

How to grow

Direct sow 2–4 weeks before last frost — lettuce germinates best in cool soil (60–65°F) and needs LIGHT to germinate, so press seeds onto the surface and barely cover. In heat, seeds go dormant (thermoinhibition); chill seeds in the fridge or pre-sprout on damp paper towels.

Florida reality: lettuce is a fall-through-spring crop, full stop. Sow succession batches every 2 weeks for continuous salad. Shade cloth (30–50%) is the difference between crisp heads and bitter mush from October to April in the South. Looseleaf types are the most forgiving; head lettuces demand more consistency. In the North, cold frames and row cover stretch harvest deep into winter.

Water & feeding

Shallow roots mean frequent, light watering — keep the top few inches consistently moist. Drip or soaker beats overhead (wet leaves = disease party). Lettuce is a light feeder; a 1/4-inch worm castings top-dress at planting is plenty, and the improved soil biology helps with nutrient uptake in cool soils.

Common problems

  • Bolting: heat triggers flowering and bitter leaves. Grow in cool seasons, use shade cloth, pick bolt-resistant varieties ('Muir', 'Salanova').
  • Slugs and snails: beer traps, iron phosphate bait, copper tape — the holy trinity of mollusk warfare.
  • Bottom rot / damping off: airflow, don't overwater, mulch to prevent soil splash. Space properly; crowded lettuce is a fungal frat house.

Harvest

Cut-and-come-again: harvest outer leaves at 3–4 inches and the plant regrows. For heads, cut at the base when firm. Harvest in the morning when leaves are crisp and hydrated — afternoon lettuce is limp lettuce. Bolted lettuce is bitter; compost it and sow more.

Nerdy fact: Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) produces a milky sap called lactucarium that was once sold as a mild sedative — which is why the Romans ate lettuce at the END of meals, to help them sleep. Salad as a sleep aid: the original nyquil.

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