Lettuce Growing Guide | Gardeningist

Growing profiles

Choose how this crop will be grown. Dimensions, spacing and timing belong to the selected profile—not to the species as a single universal value.

Loose-leaf lettuce

Non-heading lettuce harvested as leaves or a loose rosette.

Biological height: 15–35 cm (6–14 in) Source
Mature canopy: 20–40 cm (8–16 in) Source
Plant spacing: 15–25 cm (6–10 in) Source
Row spacing: 30–45 cm (12–18 in) Source
Layout: parallel rows · open ground Source
Support: Usually unnecessary
Container: At least 2 L (0.5 US gal) · 1 plant Source
Best germination temperature: 16 °C (61 °F) Source

Climate-relative calendar

Planning estimates become local dates after the gardener supplies frost dates and current conditions. Harvest and crop-removal dates are estimates: actual crop condition takes priority.

Plant Lettuce42 days before last spring frost to 14 days before last spring frost Source SourceRecommended: Soil temperature at least 2 °C (36 °F) for 3 consecutive days. Source

Thin Lettuce seedlings14 days after plant lettuce to 21 days after plant lettuce Source

Repeat sowing of Lettuce14 days after plant lettuce to 21 days after plant lettuce Source

Begin harvesting Lettuce35 days after sowing to 60 days after sowing Source

Finish harvesting Lettuce30 days after first harvest to 60 days after first harvest

Remove Lettuce cropthe expected end of harvest to 7 days after the expected end of harvest

Heading lettuce

Lettuce grown to a compact or firm head and spaced more widely.

Biological height: 20–45 cm (8–18 in) Source
Mature canopy: 25–45 cm (10–18 in) Source
Plant spacing: 20–38 cm (8–15 in) Source
Row spacing: 45–60 cm (18–24 in) Source
Layout: parallel rows · open ground Source
Support: Usually unnecessary
Container: At least 5 L (1.3 US gal) · 1 plant Source
Best germination temperature: 16 °C (61 °F) Source

Climate-relative calendar

Planning estimates become local dates after the gardener supplies frost dates and current conditions. Harvest and crop-removal dates are estimates: actual crop condition takes priority.

Sow Lettuce indoors42 days before last spring frost to 28 days before last spring frost Source SourceRequired: Soil temperature between 2 °C (36 °F) and 24 °C (75 °F). Source

Harden off Lettuce42 days before last spring frost to 35 days before last spring frost Source

Transplant Lettuce outdoors28 days before last spring frost to last spring frost SourceRequired: Soil temperature at least 2 °C (36 °F) for 3 consecutive days. SourceCheck before proceeding: Forecast frost risk no more than 25%. Source

Begin harvesting Lettuce60 days after transplanting to 85 days after transplanting Source

Finish harvesting Lettuce14 days after first harvest to 28 days after first harvest

Remove Lettuce cropthe expected end of harvest to 7 days after the expected end of harvest

Agronomy release agronomy-2026-07-11-r1 · reviewed 2026-07-11 by Gardeningist agronomic research synthesis. Each fact links to its supporting source.

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