Plant profile
Lettuce
Lactuca sativa
Also known as Leaf lettuce.
Lettuce is a quick leafy crop that grows best in mild weather with steady moisture. Loose-leaf types cope better with warm conditions than many heading types.
- Grows well in
- Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate, Cool / mountains, Arid / inland, Mediterranean
- Lifecycle
- Cool-season annual leafy vegetable
- Light
- Full sun, Part shade
- Mature size
- Usually about 15–30 cm tall and 20–35 cm wide, depending on whether it is a compact leaf lettuce, butterhead, cos or large headed variety.
- Spacing
- Leaf lettuces can be grown about 15–20 cm apart; allow roughly 25–30 cm for larger headed varieties.
- Growth habit
- Low-growing annual leafy vegetable forming a loose or tightly packed rosette of leaves around a short central stem.
- Native range
- An ancient cultivated form originating in western Asia
- Natural habitat
- A long-cultivated temperate crop rather than a plant with one clearly defined wild habitat.
When to plant
Tropical
April–August
Subtropical
March–September
Temperate
February–June, August–November
Cool / mountain
March–June, September–November
Arid inland
March–September
Mediterranean
March–June, August–November
Full growing guide
How to Grow Lettuce Plants in Australia
Good lettuce is mostly about timing, moisture and choosing varieties that suit the season. Learn how to sow, grow and harvest tender leaves for longer in Australian gardens.
Read the full growing guidePlanting
Direct sow or transplant young seedlings into fertile soil. In hot districts, grow lettuce through the cooler months and use part shade in warm weather.
Position and light
Full sun in mild weather, with part shade useful in hotter climates and seasons.
Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil with organic matter. Keep the surface mulched lightly in warm weather to reduce drying.
Watering
Keep the soil evenly moist. Drying out can make leaves bitter and encourages early flowering.
Feeding
Lettuce grows quickly and does well in fertile soil. Use a light nitrogen-containing feed if leaf growth is slow.
Pruning
No pruning is needed. Harvest outside leaves from loose-leaf types, or cut whole heads when ready.
Harvest
Loose leaves can be picked within weeks. Harvest heading types when they have reached useful size and before they become tough or start flowering. Loose-leaf types can be picked a few outer leaves at a time, while heading lettuces are usually cut whole once the heart is firm. Harvest in the cool part of the day for crisper leaves.
Propagation
Grow from seed. If you want seed, allow selected plants to flower and dry rather than removing every flower stem.
Common problems
Slugs, snails, aphids, caterpillars, tip burn and bolting in heat are common problems.
Worth knowing
Heat and moisture stress are two of the quickest ways to make lettuce bolt. Succession sowing a small amount every few weeks is usually more useful than planting one enormous crop all at once.
Grow Lettuce with Brancho
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How it grows around Australia
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Grow a Little Wild
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