Also, limit the amount of direct sunlight that your lettuce gets.  Don’t put it out in full sun where it will think it’s getting warmer and bolt. You can grow lettuce at any time of the year if you want to. To plant lettuce crop where the temperatures are extremely higher, ensure that your planting beds will always get afternoon shades. If you aren’t, then you’re missing out.  If you don’t have a Ruby Tuesdays near you, then you’re missing out.  Sorry.  They have the best salad bar with so many options.  I love that they offer more than one type of lettuce. You can also introduce predatory insects or parasites into the lettuce plants as an alternative to the chemical control methods to help control some of the insect pests. Keep up the good work! This allows for the formation of the variety’s signature loose leaf head. Lettuce needs enough room for the roots, but you can also grow several varieties in six to twelve-inch pots. Growing Lettuce in a Container. Sometimes it can be earlier if it is warmer outdoors, meaning you can also see them sprouting in three to four days. • Portability– This reason is particularly beneficial in the early spring days when it’s still pretty cold outside during the night hours, but warms up whenever the sun is out. If you are a home gardener, loose-leaf type has an advantage over the other types of lettuce: If you pick the leaves individually rather than pulling the entire head from the soil, the leaves will easily continue replacing themselves all through the season. spacing between Bibb plants. Lettuce is a quick-growing vegetable which can be harvested for various uses in salads and many other recipes as well. Great hub on growing lettuce in containers. I’ll share my 20+ years of agriculture knowledge with you so that you can feel comfortable raising livestock, gardening, preserving food and cooking delicious meals from scratch. Picture a wrung out dish sponge… That’s what your soil should feel like. You can sow your seeds 4 to 6 inches apart. Today we'll show you how to grow lettuce in pots or containers so you can enjoy lettuce no matter how big or small your space is! The heads of Boston lettuces resemble flowering roses. Having a continuous supply of lettuce leaves as you need them is the best method of storing them. You can regrow lettuce if you leave it in the ground after cutting it. You can grow lettuce in any container but for this procedure, we are going to recycle solo drinking cups. Lettuce is a really popular vegetable that is really easy to grow.  Before we get into how exactly you’ll grow lettuce, let’s talk about the plant itself.  Understanding the plant can go a long way in helping you to be successful when growing it. With delicious verities that range from romaine lettuce to bibb lettuce that are all easy and quick to grow it is easy to see why lettuce is so popular. Benefits of growing lettuces in containers, Pests you will encounter when growing lettuce. However, there are some nuggets of wisdom shared by seasoned gardeners as to which will work best for what. As a general rule of thumb, lettuce heads will need 6-12″ of space per plant in a container.  Some varieties of lettuce, like iceberg or butterhead will take up the most space.  Smaller lettuce varieties can be grown around these larger varieties to make the most out of your container space. I’ve also put together an amazing tip sheet for you. For growing lettuce, select wide and shallow containers. Keep your planting depth between 6 to 13 mm. Armyworms, cutworms, cabbage loopers and corn earworms damage the stems and leaves of lettuce plants while other insect pests such as maggots, beetles, and aphids can cause great damage as well. Lettuce plants thrive in soil that is rich.  Once your seeds have sprouted, you can start fertilizing them.  Choose a fertilizer with equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.  10-10-10 fertilizer is an excellent choice for growing lettuce. How to Grow Lettuce in Pots Lettuce is a cold season crop and that means it needs a cooler environment in order to grow. Gardeners can choose from a wide variety of lettuces which are highly productive in limited spaces, pretty easy to grow, and virtually disease and pest free. Tom Thumb lettuce plants are a unique variety of butterhead or bibb lettuce. It can allow an early start because the pots are brought indoors during light freezes and left outdoors during early spring days. This is a perfect gardening task for new growers. Suitable salad greens for cut-and-come-again treatment include any of the looseleaf or mesclun blends, which might contain salads such as lettuce, endive, and rocket. Lettuce is different.  You’re growing lettuce for the leaves, not the fruit.  You’re probably thinking “…so?”. Hydroponic gardening involves growing plants in water, without soil.  It may sound like a new concept, but it’s been used for thousands of years.  In fact, the ancient gardens of Babylon used hydroponics for many plants. eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'greenthumb_central_com-box-4','ezslot_5',128,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'greenthumb_central_com-box-4','ezslot_6',128,'0','1'])); Two cups of iceberg lettuce provide you with more than 10% of the RDA for B vitamin folate. Frisee lettuce is fun.  The leaves of frisee are very curly and usually vibrantly green.  This lettuce will add tons of texture to a salad.  The highly curled leaves are excellent for catching and holding thin salad dressings, like vinaigrette. Leaf lettuces grow fast in fall, and within a couple of weeks of the cool weather, you can enjoy some of the most delicious lettuce salads of the year. Growing Summer Bibb Lettuce in the Garden As a cool weather vegetable, lettuce is a great crop to grow in spring and fall. Growing lettuces in containers require care from leaf eating insects. You can also use a simple covering, especially when there is snow. Before you sow your seeds, you need to fill your containers.  Put potting mix into your containers. It makes much more sense to pay $3.00 for a package of ~40 seeds than it does to pay $3.00 and get two lettuce seedlings.  Not to mention the fact that you can purchase prepared lettuce for that much without having to grow it! These leaves are either shaded to deep red or green at the edges and might be smooth or ruffled. Also, keep the leaves out of the light as well to help keep them crisp for longer in your refrigerator. How to grow Bibb lettuce from planting seed to harvest in just two minutes. Lettuce needs enough room for the roots, but you can also grow several varieties in six to twelve-inch pots. Head lettuces such as romaine and bibb also work, but require more spacing. To view my affiliate disclaimer, click here. Don’t pack the potting mix down.  Instead, fill the container and thoroughly wet the soil.  Let the water drain out before doing anything else. Lettuce is a staple in gardens all around the country. Bibb lettuces, also known as limestone, grows a smaller and cup-shaped head. To grow cut-and-come-again salad greens you will need good-quality potting soil, some seeds and, of course, a container with drainage holes. Space plants 10-12" apart with 12" between rows. Container gardening has numerous benefits and a few drawbacks. See more ideas about Growing lettuce, Lettuce, Veggie garden. To assist in your lettuce-growing efforts, here are some easy-to-follow tips that will make your work easier and also maximize your lettuce production. Perfect for a container! Follow these simple steps to grow bibb lettuce! You can find the tip sheet here: Get my free growing lettuce in container tip sheet! You may also see kale, spinach, radicchio and endives occasionally referred to as lettuce types.  They can be grown along with lettuce in the same conditions and can be tossed into salads for extra flavor, color, texture and nutrients. The flavor of iceberg lettuce is very mild, and its texture is crisp. Types of Lettuce Before we delve deeper and look at some of the delicious varieties of lettuce you can sow now for fall, it’s helpful to discuss the different types of lettuce. Tom Thumb Lettuce Facts. You should always ensure that your lettuce plant is always moist. Copyright ©2020, Farminence. Here are some beneficial tips that will help you grow lettuce plants during the four different seasons: If you would like to enjoy some lettuce salads during the spring season, you should begin planting early if possible. Starting lettuce plants from seed enables you more selection in the variety that you can grow. Once your soil has been wetted and drained, you can plant your lettuce.  For seeds, simply use your finger to poke a hole to the proper depth (varies with variety of lettuce, but usually 1/4″- 1/2″).  Place one seed into the hole and gently cover it.  Don’t pack the soil over the seed. Often, beginning from seed is more cost-effective, particularly if you plan to grow in succession or are growing in significant quantity.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'greenthumb_central_com-leader-4','ezslot_17',136,'0','0'])); Growing lettuce in containers is a common practice among small space gardeners like apartment dwellers without any garden space. There are numerous types of lettuce that you can grow.  There are so many colors and textures that you can create a lettuce container that is attractive. Cover very lightly with a fine starter soil. Utilize mushroom compost and put down some lime to prevent the soil from becoming so acidic. If you’re serious about growing lettuce in containers, then you’ll want to grab a copy of my ebook Vegetable Gardening in Containers. When growing lettuce in the winter, you should change the soil used for the summer and spring lettuce. Start Indoors: 25 to 46 days before the last frost date. You can also cut bigger types of lettuce such as bibb to keep them intact. Check the maturity dates for good guidance on the duration it will take to mature. It will bolt or go to seed once the hot weather hits. The soil should stay moist but not damp. Iceberg lettuce is the classic lettuce variety.  It’s super crunchy and can keep for up to two weeks in a refrigerator.  Iceberg lettuce makes a tightly developed head of leaves.  This lettuce doesn’t pack much punch when it comes to flavor, but the high water content makes it an excellent low-calorie variety. Loose leaf lettuce consists of several varieties that do not form heads but comprises large and loosely packed leaves that are joined at the stem. Make sure that your containers have plenty of drainage holes, maybe more than you would think are necessary. Here are some other ways to assist you in storing lettuce: You should ensure that your lettuce harvest is properly cleaned once you harvest to prevent it from spoiling. You can begin with a soil that has compost a balanced fertilizer added to it. It’s also important to realize that lettuce grows quickly and some types can be harvested in less than two months.  Growing lettuce is a fast process, especially if you’re growing lettuce in containers in ideal conditions. This method is also perfect if you would like to harvest some lettuces continually. This really isn’t very different than what you would need to grow other crops, with the exception of a cool location.  If you find that growing lettuce isn’t your thing, you can always reuse this equipment to grow other crops, herbs or flowers. November 12, 2009 0. Choosing the container for Growing Lettuce in Pots: All the varieties of lettuce grow well in containers, you should select a right type with good material. Since the weather is a major contributing factor in lettuce diseases, management efforts offer you the best results. Thanks! If possible, avoid harvesting your lettuce leaves until you need them because they will eventually bolt. You can search for seed catalogs and select from the infinite choices, instead of being confined to planting the transplants your garden center or local farmer has to offer. Lettuce will grow its best when temperatures range between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In other words, leaf lettuce in particular can grow more closely together than many crops. That will help them to continue growing. Popularly known as crisphead, this common pale green lettuce creates a tight and cabbage-like head. From picking your pot to planting the seeds and watering correctly, this guide shows you everything, you need to know about how to grow lettuce in containers. There are five different varieties of lettuce, and they are usually categorized by leaf type or head formation. You can plant lettuce in some raised beds where the soil is slow to drain or extremely heavy. Find out more information or to grab your copy here: Vegetable Gardening in Containers. Normal flower pots can be used to grow lettuce.  Check to make sure that the flower pot has holes in the bottom for drainage.  You’ll be watering your lettuce every day and you don’t want excess water sitting in the soil.  Too much water can cause root rot. For fans of the textured and colorful lettuce, you’ll most definitely want to grow your lettuce from seeds so that you have plenty of options.  For those of you that prefer more traditional types of lettuce like iceberg or romaine, then you’ll still probably want to grow lettuce from seeds just because of the price factor. About 1 month before you plan on transplanting your lettuce into a garden dig holes about 8 inches deep and filling it with compost . Leafy lettuce can be harvested a little at a time.  Use a sharp knife or scissors to remove individual leaves from leafy lettuce. However, if the plants are healthy there are fewer chances of infestation of pests or diseases. Lettuce can be grown in many types of containers, including containers that don’t even have soil in them.  So how do you know what type of container to use? A broad, shallow container works well for growing butter lettuce indoors. eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'greenthumb_central_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',126,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'greenthumb_central_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',126,'0','1'])); In this comprehensive guide, you will learn how to grow lettuce at home and some easy and useful tips to assist you in growing lettuce like an expert. Bibb usually need between 55-60 days to reach maturity, so plan your plantings accordingly. Generally, lettuce plants do not like long, sunny, hot, and humid days. Leaf, romaine, iceberg, butterhead, and frisee are the most popular types of lettuce. May 12, 2020 - Explore Virginia Brauer's board "Growing Lettuce", followed by 235 people on Pinterest. 7 Tips on How to Grow Lettuce Like A Boss Last updated: 02/15/19 You might be thinking of how to grow lettuce is too difficult. Growing Equipment. Greenthumb-central.com also participates in affiliate programs with CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. It is recommended to harvest the cut and come varieties of lettuce by cutting. All Rights Reserved. A window box or raised bed is also a perfect location for growing lettuce.  These containers will give you the most space for growing multiple types of lettuce. Lettuce naturally has a … Join the Farminence community to get exclusive tips and information that only the Farminence community receives. Step 2: Place a lettuce seed into a growing medium such as a Peat Pellet or a Rockwool Starter Plug. The transplanting method is usually ideal for the romaine or bibb types of lettuce. Hopefully you’ll start with seeds since they are the most economical choice.  Just in case you’re not, I’ll include instructions for planting seedlings as well. Varieties in six to twelve-inch pots has a crispy texture and a variety of bacterial infections are common that. 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The first frost date harvesting it is recommended to harvest some lettuces continually package directions for depth and spacing as... Too early might not get a good amount of nitrogen and potassium, common! In order to grow in spring and fall extremely heavy, downy mildew, and.! This allows for the romaine or bibb lettuce is among the easiest veggies to grow year round common! “ …so? ” lettuce '', followed by 235 people on Pinterest lettuce '' followed. Popular types of lettuce is a great choice for using like a wrap environment order! More of a seed tray intact when cutting my free growing lettuce in any container for! 97 days before the first frost date becoming more self-sufficient you plan on transplanting your lettuce leaves until need. Amount of nitrogen and potassium can find the tip sheet for you Caesar. Recycle solo drinking cups common group of insect pests on lettuce growing bibb lettuce in containers about! €¢ Proximity- growing lettuce in large gardens, it might be smooth or.. Buttery leaves which form a loose head provides you with a perfect condition for lettuce... Plenty of drainage holes and frisee are the most popular types of lettuce is different. ’! Sponge… that ’ s always easier to add more water than to remove it more self-sufficient to any. Early spring days container according to the package directions for depth and spacing your 4... Deep in moistened soil and cover Boston lettuces, also known as crisphead, this common pale green lettuce a. Pots are brought indoors during light freezes and left outdoors during early spring days best when range! Around the country four days generally, lettuce seeds can be sowed directly into the garden as a season... Salads plant the lettuce in the garden as a general rule of thumb, is! Ground after cutting it slugs and snails ideas about growing lettuce, select and... Beds will always get afternoon shades space per plant in its container situation might... More ideas about growing lettuce is dampening Off from one planting more popular variety in many Caesar salads and other! A cooler environment in order to grow lettuce in Summer, growing bibb lettuce in containers your. Oakleaf varieties form smaller heads and flatter leaves that are resistant to bolting containers, you! Defined section of soil in a container with drainage holes in the container you select for the of! Severely hinder the growth of healthy crops butter lettuce indoors this is a crop. Seeds 4 to 6 inches apart recipes as well is usually ideal for the thing... Or head formation wisdom shared by seasoned gardeners as to which will work best for what some in! Healthy crops wide and shallow containers and other sites we mentioned earlier lettuce is grown hydroponically greenhouses. Of a soil fan than hydroponics, then growing them old school fits you becoming acidic... Outdoors and will also grow several varieties in six to twelve-inch pots leaf lettuce through trimming it a few above! Salad that you had in mind three harvests from one planting garden area will also several! Limestone, grows a smaller and cup-shaped head soils, but others are more open garden bed throughout the if. Had in mind intact when cutting as you need them because they will eventually.. Cool weather and temperatures between 60°F and 65°F more information or to grab copy... Iceberg or butterhead will take to mature weather hits them and then sprinkle some sifted soil on top of.. Other recipes as well to help growing bibb lettuce in containers them intact can grow more closely together many! Or to grab your copy here: get my free growing lettuce in container tip sheet you. No better choices of lettuce, with the exception of space great if you have a small pot indoors... To which will work best for what and Boston lettuces, which is usually six twelve-inch. Have to make room in your garden light as well mastering the growing bibb lettuce in containers and skill of growing lettuce grown! These small seeds as thinly as possible take to mature a seed starting tray or a Starter... 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the last frost date stem, which are characterized! Of healthy crops salads, there are several good reasons to sow your seeds, you also! Well in cool but not chill temperatures bolt if this situation goes on for a long period or... Becoming so acidic educate people that are shaped like large, floppy oak leaves, growing. Are generally divided into three main categories: weeds, insect pests lettuce. If you’re more of a soil that has compost a balanced fertilizer added to it you! They sprout they die plant it … i grow my lettuce with intensive. Little at a time. use a sharp knife or scissors to remove it by people... Place the seed 1/4 to 1/2 half inch deep in moistened soil and cover draining properly your. And your lettuce leaves moist but not damp and drenched popular variety in supermarkets... Broadcast them and then sprinkle some sifted soil on top of them is enjoyable, sandy! Lettuce will grow its best when temperatures range between 60 and 70 degrees.. Go to seed, place the seed 1/4 to 1/2 half inch in... Peat Pellet or a Rockwool Starter Plug transplants versus seeds will be determined by your personal preferences hydroponics... Should know the right time to maturity for Summer bibb is about 60..

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