How to grow lettuce

When growing lettuce, seed selection is imperative. It is always best to consult a local gardener to find the best type of lettuce to grow within your local area.

Growing lettuce from seed is best begun after the last chance of frost (April in the UK). Choose an area in the garden where the soil is high in organic matter and has a ph of around 7. The seeds should be sown approximately 12 inches apart and covered with a thin layer of soil. Keep the patch devoid of weeds and make sure you water the lettuce well. When the plants emerge weed out the weakest ones that are growing closer than 7 inches to a more healthy plant. This avoids over crowding and allows the stronger lettuces to flourish.

Keep the lettuce well watered over the summer period but try to avoid over watering them as this will cause disease to strike the crop.

The lettuce will be ready for harvesting when the heart of the lettuce is firm. Depending on the variety of lettuce you are growing and the time of year you are growing them in, lettuce can be harvested by cutting the leaves off at ground level. By leaving the roots intact you stand a good chance of the lettuce growing more leaves for another harvest.