● Lettuce prefers cooler temperatures, and we wanting it to have a chance to germinate as

soon as it gets the chance to.

● Planting Area/Planting
○ Typically there is no need for a cover overtop
○ Rows should be about 4” apart, but seeds can be quite dense in the row (about
¼” to ½”). May need a good amount of loose soil space (8”-12” or more deep
raised beds…?) so roots can travel. Plant in ground if possible.
■ Naturally will self-cull the weaker seeds. Requires more seed to start but
does this well.
■ 4” apart allows for “self supporting”. Lettuce will take up the space around
it and end up supporting the leaves of the lettuce plants next to it. If you
have more room, you could do up to 6” of space between rows and
lettuce will grow more out as opposed to up
● Mulching
○ Straw mulch (GradenStraw) can work, but really anything is good. Straight on top
of the rows
■ Goal is to maintain moisture in the soil
■ About 3-4” max of mulch, really just sprinkle on to cover
● Watering
○ Deep watering is typically preferred. If you just water the top, weeds will use
water first and overgrow the lettuce. Won’t take much if you are getting rain.
■ Shallow watering = 2” and to soil surface
■ Deep Watering = 2” or deeper. Typically it will be a little deeper than two,
but for lettuce, 2” might be okay.
● Think 15-20 seconds of watering on a bed.
● Harvesting
○ “Cut and Come Again”
■ Cut lettuce about 2-3” from the soil surface. Center crown of lettuce will
regrow all new leaves through the season. Causes a head to not form,
but allows for more leaf harvest, which we want!
○ You can wait until a head has formed and the lettuce has grown out. This would
take out the plant but give you more yield at that moment. Only should be done if
you want the head or don’t eat many salads.