Lettuce is a great crop when you’re short on gardening space, and care is relatively easy, too. The key is consistency. Lettuce prefers 4-6 hours of daily sunlight with some afternoon shade to prevent temperatures from getting too high. Plant in loamy soil and provide 1-2 inches of consistent water a week, watering at the base to keep the leaves dry and the soil moist. Using cold water and mulch will help control soil temperatures during the hottest summer spells. Large fluctuations can lead to edge browning and other issues.

Planting chives and garlic between lettuce rows will serve as a protective barrier against aphids. Other pests and diseases to watch for include cutworms, earwigs, slugs, powdery mildew and lettuce mosaic virus.

As a cool-season crop, seeding lettuce indoors isn’t necessary, but doing so can extend the growing season or let you do succession planting. Use a light, well-draining seed starter mix and sow the seeds about a quarter-inch deep. Provide plenty of light and temperatures of 55-65 degrees. When seeding and transplanting, use a mist nozzle to fully moisten the soil. Lettuce germinates in 7-10 days and should be ready to transplant in 3-4 weeks. Harden the seedlings off for 3-4 days before you transplant.

It’s safe to plant or transplant lettuce once the ground is workable, which can be up to four weeks before the last spring frost. Plants should be 6-18 inches apart (check the variety for specifics) with rows 12-15 inches apart. The compact size lets you place lettuce among flowers and other vegetables.

Lettuce has a shallow root system that does well in window boxes and the lowest levels of multi-tier raised beds. Choose a well-draining potting soil and avoid heavy materials like clay. You may need to water container lettuce more frequently than in-ground lettuce.

Lettuce needs frequent fertilization and slightly acidic soil to prosper. Add compost or manure to the soil when transplanting, then continue to fertilize every 2-4 weeks. As a leafy plant by nature, lettuce loves high-nitrogen fertilizer to boost those leaves, whether granular or liquid. Blood meal and alfalfa meal are good organic high-nitrogen options. Balanced fertilizers are fine, too. We recommend soil testing to see what nutrients you should emphasize.

Lettuce is an annual vegetable, but winterization can allow plants to self-seed for the following season. The plant is frost-tolerant, but you may need a mini hoop house, cold frame or row covers to shield against extreme cold. Mulch for additional soil insulation and water less frequently. In warmer regions, you can plant new lettuce in the fall for a midwinter and early spring harvest.

Apart from immediately removing dead and damaged leaves, no pruning is needed. However, you can individually remove outer leaves from a lettuce head to trigger new growth within a few weeks. Known as “cut and come again,” this harvesting method makes a plant even more bountiful.

Leaf lettuce can be harvested whenever it reaches the size you want, while head lettuce should be picked when it’s 6-8 inches across. This can take 40-100 degrees based on the variety and what time of year you’re growing it. Cut leaves or the full head off near the base with a sharp knife or shears.