Join our gardening family to receive the latest tips. JOIN ON SUBSTACK
Fall is the finest season for growing lettuce. As summer heat fades and cool weather returns, lettuce grows faster, develops sweeter flavor, and remains tender far longer than spring crops. Instead of bolting quickly as temperatures rise, fall lettuce thrives through weeks of cool weather, providing continuous harvests for salads and sandwiches. The secret to…
Every lettuce gardener eventually faces the same disappointment. One day your lettuce is crisp, tender, and ready for salads. A few days later, the center of the plant begins stretching upward, leaves become bitter, and a flower stalk suddenly appears. Your lettuce has bolted. Bolting is one of the most common challenges of growing lettuce…
Lettuce grows best in cool weather and sunny locations. Spring, mid-summer, and early fall are the times of year to plant lettuce, but you can grow lettuce in the summer even in warm regions if you choose heat-tolerant and bolt-resistant varieties. There are lettuce cultivars that are ready for picking in 45 days and others…
Lettuce grows best in the cool weather of spring and fall. Time lettuce seed sowing so plants come to harvest before very warm and hot weather, Hot weather will trigger bolting and seed-stalk formation. Bolting can be slowed by picking the oldest leaves first but it can’t be stopped. Lettuce that bolts will be bitter-flavored,…
If you’re looking to grow healthy, productive lettuce, companion planting is a smart, time-tested strategy. After more than 30 years of experience in raised bed and container gardening, I’ve learned firsthand that growing the right plants together can reduce pests, maximize space, and enhance crop performance—especially for cool-season crops like lettuce. Lettuce has shallow roots…
Growing lettuce in the fall is a smart way to enjoy fresh greens long after the heat of summer fades. As a year-round gardener in California’s Sonoma Valley, I’ve had great success growing fall lettuce in raised beds, containers, and even cold frames. Fall lettuce often grows more tender and flavorful than spring crops because…
Subscribe today to get our weekly recipe newsletter! You don’t want to miss out!
