Growing Great Lettuce

By Kymisha Montgomery, CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator

One of the most popular and easy crops to grow is lettuce, and there are several reasons why. It’s a very flexible crop that can be grown in the garden, with hydroponics and indoors with very little effort in a short amount of time. And lettuce from the garden packs much more flavor into its leaves than what you find at a grocery store!

Why Lettuce?

Here are reasons to try growing lettuce in your garden this year:

More variety: Growing lettuce—whether from starts or seeds—gives you the opportunity to explore varieties that you wouldn’t typically find at a grocery store near you.

Quick maturity: Unlike most crops that can take 50-70 days to mature, some varieties of lettuce can be harvested within 30 days, depending on the size of the leaf you choose for your salad or other dish. Loose leaf lettuce, which refers to varieties that don't form any type of head, are considered the quickest to grow when given optimal conditions.

Flexibility: As long as the environment is right, lettuce can be grown in various places, from your garden to your windowsill or even intercropped between larger plants that provide relief from the sun during the warmer months. This latter method can extend your growing season by months since lettuce plants generally prefer cooler temperatures. Lettuce can also tolerate shade, meaning you can add it to areas of the garden that may not be sunny enough for other crops.

Compact: Many varieties of lettuce take up little space, leaving room in your garden for other crops.

Varieties of Lettuce

I prefer leaf lettuce because you can use the “cut and come again” method: Simply cut the amount of lettuce you need for immediate use without removing the entire plant and it will continue to grow back, allowing you to have a continued harvest. This approach cuts down on waste and is a great way to monitor your intake. We’ll have several cut-and-come-again lettuce mixes at our 2023 Plant Sale on May 6, if you’d like to try this veggie out in your garden.

Most leaf lettuces are packed with nutrients, while head lettuce, such as iceberg, is not. But both types are a great source of fiber.

“Lettuce” Have Success!

Giving your lettuce sun, water and an organic nitrogen fertilizer can ensure a quick and successful harvest. Try some out this year and see how much better garden lettuce can be!