Lettuce
Lactuca sativa · Easy
A succession-friendly salad crop, especially useful as loose-leaf or cut-and-come-again types.
Sow
Small batches from late winter to early autumn, with protection at the season edges.
Plant
Direct sow or transplant modules before they become crowded.
Harvest
Spring to autumn outdoors, and longer under protection.
Practical growing notes
Give lettuce the right space.
- Plant spacing
- About 20–30 cm for heads; closer for loose leaves.
- Light
- Full sun or partial shade.
- Containers
- Excellent in pots, troughs and window boxes.
Why grow it?
Fast, compact and easy to stagger for continuous harvests.
Watch for
Heat, drought and overcrowding encourage bolting and bitterness.
Keep the bed moving
What can follow lettuce?
One of the fastest food crops, ideal for gaps and repeated small sowings.
brassica familyRocketA compact peppery leaf crop that can be harvested repeatedly and grows well in containers.
beet familySpinachA quick cool-season leaf crop for spring and autumn, with repeat pickings from small sowings.
onion familyGarlicA low-maintenance overwintering crop planted as named, disease-free cloves.