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.

Typical mature height: 6–14 in (15–35 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Mature canopy: 8–16 in (20–40 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Plant spacing: 6–10 in (15–25 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Row spacing: 12–18 in (30–45 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Planting arrangement: parallel rows · open ground Editorial synthesisbasis
Support: Usually unnecessary
Optional container: At least 0.5 US gal (2 L) · 1 plant Editorial synthesisbasis
Best germination range: 36–75 °F (2–24 °C) Editorial synthesisbasis

Climate-relative calendar

Frost and transplant rules become local dates when climate data is available. Cultivar maturity and crop condition are never replaced by a fabricated date.

Plant Lettuce42 days before last spring frost to 14 days before last spring frost Direct sourceEditorial synthesisbasisRecommended: Soil temperature at least 36 °F (2 °C) for 3 consecutive days. Editorial synthesisbasis

Thin Lettuce seedlings14 days after plant lettuce to 21 days after plant lettuce Direct source

Repeat sowing of Lettuce14 days after plant lettuce to 21 days after plant lettuce Editorial synthesisbasis

Begin harvesting Lettuce35 days after sowing to 60 days after sowing Planning estimatebasis

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.

Typical mature height: 8–18 in (20–45 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Mature canopy: 10–18 in (25–45 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Plant spacing: 8–15 in (20–38 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Row spacing: 18–24 in (45–60 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Planting arrangement: parallel rows · open ground Editorial synthesisbasis
Support: Usually unnecessary
Optional container: At least 1.3 US gal (5 L) · 1 plant Editorial synthesisbasis
Best germination range: 36–75 °F (2–24 °C) Editorial synthesisbasis

Climate-relative calendar

Frost and transplant rules become local dates when climate data is available. Cultivar maturity and crop condition are never replaced by a fabricated date.

Sow Lettuce indoors42 days before last spring frost to 28 days before last spring frost Direct sourceEditorial synthesisbasisRequired: Soil temperature between 36 °F (2 °C) and 75 °F (24 °C). Editorial synthesisbasis

Harden off Lettuce42 days before last spring frost to 35 days before last spring frost Editorial synthesisbasis

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

Begin harvesting Lettuce60 days after transplanting to 85 days after transplanting Planning estimatebasis

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. Direct-source links indicate close source support; synthesis and planning estimates are labeled separately.

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