How to Grow Lettuce

Beginner-Friendly

Lactuca sativa

Fast-growing cool-season green. Cut-and-come-again varieties allow multiple harvests from one planting.

Last updated: June 2026

Days to Maturity
45–60 days
typical
Per Square Foot
4
Plant Spacing
15 cm / 6"
Sun
4+ hours
Water
1.0" / 25 mm
Fertilization
moderate feeder

Growing Notes

Sow direct as soon as soil can be worked. Provide afternoon shade in warm climates.

Varieties & Cultivars

19 cultivars in our database. Click any card to see growing details.

Also called Batavia

(1)
Summer Crisp
50–60 days Open-Pollinated

heat tolerant; tender crunchy texture; bridges gap between butterhead and iceberg

Height
6–12" (15–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.9 oz (55 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Butterhead

(3)
Butterhead
50–60 days Open-Pollinated
Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
5.8 oz (165 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Deer Tongue
46–55 days Open-Pollinated

semi-heading butterhead; sweet and tender

Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
5.8 oz (165 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Tom Thumb
48–55 days Open-Pollinated

perfect for containers and borders

Height
4–6" (10–15 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
3.0 oz (85 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Butterhead type

(1)
Buttercrunch
45–55 days Open-Pollinated

compact head; sweet mild flavour; reliable summer performer

Height
6–12" (15–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.8 oz (50 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Crisp tight heads

(1)
Iceberg
70–85 days Open-Pollinated

needs cool conditions; classic crisphead type

Height
8–12" (20–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.1 lb (500 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
moderate
Seed viability
3 years

Fast-maturing red leaf

(1)
Red Grand Rapids
35–45 days Open-Pollinated

mild sweet flavour; excellent for cut-and-come-again; quick harvest

Height
4–8" (10–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.4 oz (40 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
3–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

French summer crisp type

(1)
Batavia
50–60 days Open-Pollinated

crisp thick leaves; excellent heat tolerance

Height
6–12" (15–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
7.1 oz (200 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Heat-tolerant romaine

(1)
Montecarlo
45–55 days Open-Pollinated

crisp tender leaves; excellent for summer planting; AAS winner 2007

Height
6–12" (15–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
2.1 oz (60 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Leaf

(7)
Black Seeded Simpson
42–50 days Open-Pollinated

quick growing; heat-tolerant leaf lettuce

Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
5.3 oz (150 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Green Star
45–55 days Open-Pollinated

very bolt resistant; heat tolerant; long harvest window; good for summer production

Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
5.3 oz (150 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Lollo Rosso
45–55 days Open-Pollinated

decorative; mild sweet flavour

Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
5.3 oz (150 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Mesclun Mix
28–40 days Open-Pollinated

quick successive sowings; multi-textured salads

Height
4–8" (10–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
3.5 oz (100 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Oak Leaf
45–55 days Open-Pollinated

Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
5.3 oz (150 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Red Sails
42–50 days Open-Pollinated

slow to bolt; mild sweet flavour

Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
5.3 oz (150 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Salad Bowl
45–55 days Open-Pollinated

slow to bolt; heat-tolerant rosette form

Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
5.3 oz (150 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Romaine

(3)
Little Gem
45–55 days Open-Pollinated

12-15cm heads; excellent for small gardens

Height
6–8" (15–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
5.3 oz (150 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Romaine
60–75 days Open-Pollinated
Height
10–14" (25–36 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.3 lb (610 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Rouge d'Hiver
55–65 days Open-Pollinated

very cold-hardy; overwinters in mild climates; sweet mild flavour; excellent for fall and winter gardens

Height
8–12" (20–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
7.1 oz (200 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Companion Planting

What to grow alongside lettuce, and what to keep apart.

Plant With

Tomato : Lettuce acts as living mulch beneath tomato plants
Beet : Beet roots grow deep leaving shallow zone for lettuce
Cauliflower : Lettuce uses space between cauliflower plants
Sunflower : Sunflower shade prevents lettuce from bolting in warm weather
Strawberry : Lettuce provides living mulch between strawberry rows; strawberries shade lettuce roots
Asparagus : Lettuce fills space between asparagus crowns in early spring before ferns emerge
Spinach : Complementary cool-season greens
Watermelon : Lettuce uses space before watermelon vines spread
Swiss Chard : Both greens with complementary growth habits
Cucumber : Lettuce grows well in cucumber canopy shade
Peas : Peas provide shade that keeps lettuce from bolting
Dill : Dill attracts beneficial insects near lettuce
Okra : Okra provides afternoon shade for heat-sensitive lettuce
Radish : Radishes loosen soil for lettuce roots
Garlic : Garlic deters aphids from lettuce
Melon : Lettuce uses space before melon vines spread
Chives : Chives deter aphids from lettuce
Broccoli : Lettuce uses space between broccoli plants
Onion : Onion scent deters aphids from lettuce
Artichoke : Lettuce thrives in the partial shade cast by artichoke's large leaves
Carrot : Carrots loosen soil aiding lettuce root growth
Cilantro : Cilantro attracts beneficial insects near lettuce
Leek : Lettuce fills space between leek rows in early season

Keep Apart

Square Foot Spacing

4 per sq ft

6" apart (2×2 grid)

View full spacing chart →

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