Lettuce
cool-season crop
At a glance
| Suitable zone groups | All four zone groups, as a cool-season annual |
|---|---|
| Planting window | See the guide text below, in general terms relative to your last spring frost |
| Sun | Full sun to partial afternoon shade |
| Soil | Moist, fertile soil |
| Watering | Shallow, frequent watering to keep leaves crisp |
About this plant
Lettuce is a fantastic, space-saving choice for beginners seeking quick harvests during the cooler months of the year. It adapts easily across cold (zones 3-4), cool (zones 5-6), warm (zones 7-8), and hot (zones 9-10) climate zones, grown universally as a cool-season annual. Sow seeds directly into the garden in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, well before the last spring frost, or sow again in late summer for a fall harvest.
Lettuce thrives in full sun to partial afternoon shade, prefers moist, fertile soil, and requires shallow, frequent watering to keep its leaves crisp and mild.
Common beginner failures and fixes
- Bitter flavor and rapid flowering: Plant during cool weather and provide afternoon shade during warm spells.
- Seeds fail to sprout: Sow seeds very shallowly because they require light to germinate.
- Crowded, stunted plants: Thin young seedlings early so individual heads have space to expand.
- Torn leaf edges from pests: Protect young crops using lightweight physical row covers.
Beginner checklist
- Plant early while spring air remains cool.
- Press seeds lightly onto the soil surface.
- Water gently and frequently to keep topsoil moist.
- Thin seedlings to give heads room to grow.
- Harvest outer leaves regularly for continuous yields.
Zone groups and planting windows here are general guidance. Confirm your own zone and last frost date locally before planting.