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Lettuce illustration
Vegetables · Annual

Lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Tender leafy rosettes that make the most of a small space.

Make it part of your growing collection.

A LITTLE EVERYDAY CARE

Help it thrive.

A few things worth knowing.
01

Protect its shallow roots

Keep soil consistently moist. Dryness and high temperatures can trigger flowering and make the leaves bitter.

02

Pick from the outside

For repeated leaf harvests, take outer leaves and allow the centre to keep growing. Head lettuces are harvested differently.

03

Choose for the weather

In warmer conditions, use heat-tolerant cultivars and some shade. Small repeat sowings can spread the harvest.

Care guide · NC State ExtensionSource checked 14 Sept 2026 · Adapt timing to your climate and variety.
A PLACE TO THRIVE

Growing essentials.

Sunlight
2+ hours of sun (sun or part shade)Source-backed
Moisture
Consistently moistSource interpretation
Soil pH
6–6.7Source-backed
Drainage
Moist, well-drainedSource interpretation
Nutrients
Not verifiedExcluded from score
Soil texture
Not verifiedExcluded from score
Plant spacing
≈ 25 cmPlanning estimate
Growing depth
≈ 20 cmPlanning estimate
Typical height
≈ 25 cmPlanning estimate
Growing season
cool-seasonPlanning estimate

Source-backed preferences and planning estimates are labelled separately. Missing values are not treated as a match. Spacing and depth still depend on cultivar and growing method.

Data sources & uncertainty
Sunlight

Sun or partial shade is listed. 2+ hours is a broad category, not a yield guarantee.

Source · checked 2026-09-14
Moisture

Qualitative moisture preference from the growing description; ordinal model, not a measured watering schedule.

Source · checked 2026-09-14
Soil pH

Numeric preferred pH range given in the growing description.

Source · checked 2026-09-14
Drainage

Free drainage is recommended; the ordinal distinction is an interpretation, not a measured drainage rate.

Source · checked 2026-09-14
Nutrients

No comparable numeric nutrient requirement verified; excluded from scoring.

Source · checked 2026-09-14
Soil texture

The source describes fertility or organic matter rather than specific textures. No texture comparison is scored.

Source · checked 2026-09-14
Plant spacing

Leaf and head types differ: roughly 10–15 cm for leaf types, 25 cm for heads. Model uses head-lettuce spacing.

Source · checked 2026-09-14
Growing depth

Approximate planning value; cultivar, growth stage and container form change the requirement.

Source · checked 2026-09-14
Typical height

Approximate planning value; cultivar, growth stage and container form change the requirement.

Source · checked 2026-09-14
Growing season

Broad growth preference only; excluded from scoring because no location or planting date is known.

Source · checked 2026-09-14