Lactuca sativa

Lettuce

Lettuce is a cool-season crop that can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. Extend your harvest by planting every 2-3 weeks, choosing heat-tolerant varieties for the summer. Use a cold frame to stretch the spring and fall growing seasons into the winter months.

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The Growing Guide

Soil Temp for Germ 40–80°F
Seed Depth ⅛"
Seed Spacing 1"
Days to Emergence 2–15
Thin Plants to 10–16"
Row Spacing 16–18"
Fertilizer Needs Low
Minimum Germination 80%
Seeds per Gram ≈ 800
Seed Life 3 years

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More About The Seeds & Plants

Key to Lettuce Disease Resistance & Tolerance

High Resistance
Intermediate Resistance
Bottom Rot
Downy Mildew
Fusarium Wilt Fungal disease causing yellowing, wilting plant leaves.
Lettuce Drop
Lettuce Mosaic Virus
Lettuce Aphid
Powdery Mildew
Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus (Lettuce Dieback Complex)
Corky Root | Sphingomonas suberifaciens A bacteria that attacks the plant's roots, causing them to swell, develop lesions, and become brittle and cork-like.

* Numbers indicate specific disease race.

More About

Lactuca sativa

Days to maturity are calculated from date of direct seeding.

Culture
• Lettuce performs best in cool weather, 60-70°F, and grows in a wide range of soil types
• Plant as early as soil can be worked
• For extended harvest, plant every 2-3 weeks and choose heat-tolerant varieties for summer
• Lettuce seed can be sown every month from February—October
• A cold frame and cold-hardy varieties can stretch the spring and fall growing season into the winter months
• Apply 1 cup of TSC's Complete fertilizer per 10 row feet, and 1 inch of compost
• 1 gram of seed will sow 30 row feet
• Consistent, even watering is critical for best results

Direct Sowing
• Use row cover to improve germination and prevent soil crusting
• As soon as 2-3 true leaves have formed, thin loose-leaf types to 10-14 inches apart; icebergs, butterheads, and romaines to 12-16 inches apart

Transplanting
• Start indoors 4-6 weeks before anticipated transplant date

Insects & Diseases
• Common pests: Aphids and slugs
• Pest control: Strong spray of water for aphids or applications of Pyrethrin, baits, traps, or Cabbage Collars for slugs

Harvest & Storage
• While picking individual leaves helps extend the season somewhat, all eventually become bitter as they begin to bolt

What is pelleted seed?
Seed that has been coated with a clay-based material to form a larger, round shape. This makes planting by hand or mechanical seeder easier and allows for more controlled sowing of small seeds such as carrots or lettuce. All pelleted seed has a National Organic Program (NOP) approved coating.
For best results, store pelleted seed in an air-tight container and use within one season.

KEY TO LETTUCE DISEASE RESISTANCE AND TOLERANCE
HR indicates high resistance.
IR indicates intermediate resistance.
BR | Bottom Rot
DM* | Downy Mildew
F* | Fusarium Wilt
LD | Lettuce Drop
LMV* | Lettuce Mosaic Virus
Nr* | Lettuce Aphid
PM | Powdery Mildew
Rs | Corky Root
TBSV | Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus (Lettuce Dieback Complex)
* Numbers indicate specific disease race.

Our Crew's Top Choices

Our Favorite Lettuce

Beloved for its crisp-yet-tender leaves and sweet, mellow bite, Buttercrunch lettuce is an employee favorite. Compact, heat-tolerant heads resist bolting and hold texture beautifully. Reliable, easy to grow, and versatile in the kitchen, it shines in salads, sandwiches, and garden-fresh wraps.