GardenHow to Grow Lettuce at Home
A crisp, hydrating green with folate and vitamin K — and cut-and-come-again leaves mean weeks of salads from one sowing.
Difficulty: BeginnerReady in 30–60 daysLight: Full sun to part shadeYou'll need: Shallow bed or container
How to grow it
- Sow seed shallowly in cool weather (spring or fall); lettuce bolts and turns bitter in summer heat.
- Keep the soil consistently moist for fast, tender growth.
- Thin the seedlings so they aren't crowded, eating the thinnings.
- Pick outer leaves as you need them and the plant keeps producing.
Common mistakes
- Sowing in the heat of summer — it bolts
- Letting it dry out, which turns the leaves bitter
Pro tip
A little afternoon shade in warm weather keeps lettuce sweet and slows bolting.
Grow it with My Living Pantry →More garden to grow