How to Grow Lettuce: A Complete Guide for Allotment Gardeners
Whether you’re after soft butterhead leaves or a crisp romaine crunch, lettuce is one of the easiest and most satisfying crops to grow. It’s fast, space-efficient, and perfect for repeat sowings — making it ideal for beginners and allotment regulars alike.
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through how to grow lettuce from seed to harvest, covering soil prep, sowing, care, common issues, and variety suggestions for the UK growing season.
🥬 Why Grow Lettuce?
- Fast-maturing: some varieties are ready in just 4 weeks
- Cut-and-come-again options give multiple harvests
- Ideal for small spaces or container growing
- Grows well spring to autumn in the UK
- Perfect for fresh salads straight from the plot
📆 When to Sow Lettuce in the UK
- Indoors: February–March (start early under cover)
- Outdoors: March–August (direct sow or transplant)
- Successional sowing: every 2–3 weeks to avoid gluts
🪴 Where to Grow Lettuce
Lettuce prefers:
- Full sun to partial shade (especially in summer)
- Moist, well-drained soil enriched with compost or leaf mould
- Sheltered spots out of harsh wind
Tip: Lettuce bolts in heat — choose a shadier location or add cloche/fleece in hot weather.
🌱 How to Sow Lettuce (Step-by-Step)
Option 1: Direct sowing (outdoors)
- Rake soil to a fine tilth.
- Mark rows 15–30cm apart (depending on variety).
- Sow seeds thinly at 1cm depth.
- Cover lightly with soil and water gently.
- Thin seedlings to 20–30cm apart as they grow.
Option 2: Module sowing (indoors or greenhouse)
- Fill trays with seed compost and water lightly.
- Sow 1–2 seeds per cell at 0.5cm deep.
- Cover with vermiculite or compost.
- Place on a windowsill or in a cold frame.
- Harden off before planting outside after 3–4 weeks.
🛒 Deep Cell Seed Trays with Drainage Holes
Excellent for starting lettuce in modules with minimal root disturbance.
💧 Care and Maintenance
- Water regularly – lettuce hates drying out, especially in containers.
- Mulch around plants to keep soil moist and cool.
- Thin crowded seedlings to reduce fungal issues and ensure airflow.
- Hoe lightly around rows to deter weeds and slugs.
🛒 Soaker Hose Irrigation Kit
A low-fuss way to keep your rows evenly watered during dry spells.
🐌 Common Problems (and Solutions)
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Bolting (early flowering) | Hot/dry conditions | Sow bolt-resistant varieties, provide shade, water often |
| Slugs & snails | Moist soil, fresh leaves | Use beer traps, copper tape, or night hand-picking |
| Aphids or mildew | Crowded or stressed plants | Ensure good airflow, space well, use organic spray if needed |
🥗 When and How to Harvest Lettuce
- Cut-and-come-again: snip leaves 2–3cm above base. New leaves will regrow.
- Hearting types: harvest the full head when firm and full.
- Pick in the cool of the morning for best texture and flavour.
- Store in the fridge wrapped in damp cloth or beeswax wrap for 3–5 days.
🧬 Best Lettuce Varieties to Grow in the UK
🍃 Loose Leaf
- ‘Salad Bowl’ – green or red, slow to bolt
- ‘Lollo Rosso’ – frilly red leaves, attractive in beds
- ‘Oak Leaf’ – sweet, soft texture
🥬 Hearting
- ‘Little Gem’ – mini romaine, great in rows
- ‘Tom Thumb’ – compact butterhead, perfect for containers
- ‘Winter Density’ – good for autumn and overwintering under fleece
🌿 Companion Planting for Lettuce
- Chives or garlic – deter aphids
- Marigolds or nasturtiums – distract slugs and encourage pollinators
- Radishes or carrots – interplant for efficient use of space
🌱 Final Thoughts on How to Grow Lettuce
Learning how to grow lettuce is one of the most rewarding steps you can take as a food grower. It’s quick, satisfying, and opens the door to year-round salad success.
With the right variety, regular sowing, and a few slug-deterring tricks, you can enjoy fresh, crunchy lettuce almost every week from early spring to late autumn.
