Learn how to grow lettuce with this simple step-by-step guide on growing lettuce.
This year, I’ve pretty much made it. You can say I have an endless supply of lettuce. I didn’t do everything by the book – I didn’t leave much space between the lettuce heads, but somehow it’s growing like crazy. Which means more nutrient-poor lettuce salads and lettuce wraps for me. Just kidding, gotta love lettuce, here’s why…
Why Grow Lettuce
Lettuce may not have super healing properties, but if you want to add more greens to your diet and are just getting started with gardening – you need to learn how to grow lettuce. It’s fun and useful.
Plus you get to experience something different. Lettuce also
- still has more nutrients than bread and is therefore a great low carb alternative in many recipes
- it’s a great base for salads and can be used in smoothies as well
- it’s rich in nutrients like vitamin A, K, folate and even has some protein.
One great reason to grow your own lettuce is to keep it free from harmful chemicals – you really get to control what you put into your body (and your family’s) when you start growing your own food.
When & Where To Plant Lettuce
Lettuce is a spring and fall crop as it loves warm weather, but it doesn’t thrive when it’s too hot out – temperatures between 60-70F or 10-20C are optimal. I always start my lettuce from seeds in pots indoors when it’s still cold out (or hot – for fall harvest) and then transplant outdoors once the roots have formed and the last frost in spring has passed (which we can’t always predict, but hope for the best!). Plant your lettuce in a warm (not hot) place that gets plenty of sun. Use well drained soil, adding compost can improve the growth of your lettuce and make it more nutritious.
Growing Lettuce: Step By Step Guide
- Once your lettuce seeds have germinated and reached the 2nd leaf phase (the plants got the second set of leaves) take out the small plants with the roots out.
- To transplant – make holes in the soil about 10-25 inches or 25-35 cm apart. You can do this by using a trowel or even a dibber (that’s what I use). Put each lettuce root inside the hole and cover with well-drained soil, making sure the leaves stay above the ground.
- Press the soil surrounding the lettuce with your hands and lightly water the soil (no overwatering!) to stabilize and moisturize the new plant.
- Water your lettuce consistently, keeping the soil moist at all times to ensure the development of big leaves. You want to stay away from watering too much too often, as this can make your lettuce grow deeper roots, but stop growing big leaves.
How To Use Lettuce
I guess it’s a surprise to nobody, but lettuce is great in salads and in today’s “low carb world” the base for wraps, sandwiches and even burgers. Here are some recipes you might enjoy:
- Salmon Lettuce Wraps
- Mediterranean Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Low Carb Healthy Chicken Salad
- Anti-Inflammatory Chickpea Lettuce Wraps
- Tuna & Rice Salad
- Keto Crunchwrap
I hope this inspired you to start growing your own vegetables if you’re new to gardening. It’s a very rewarding experience!
You Might Also Like
