Container Lettuce

Container lettuce

Loose-leaf lettuce, head lettuce, crisphead lettuce—all will grow well in containers. Look for lettuce varieties that are well-suited to your growing conditions. If your summers get especially hot, select heat-resistant varieties. For early spring or later fall growing, look for lettuces that do well in cool weather.

Does lettuce grow well in containers?

Almost all varieties of lettuce can be grown in containers. But loose leaf types tend to do better and require less space than full-head varieties. Some are meant to be grown to maturity and harvested only once, while others can be picked in baby-leaf form or harvested a few leaves at a time.

How deep should a container be for lettuce?

Your pots should be at least six inches deep and have a drainage hole in the bottom. The ideal containers depend a bit on the lettuce variety you grow because the necessary space will vary. You can either direct sow your lettuce seeds in the pot or transplant seedlings into your pots.

What size container do you need for lettuce?

Choose a pot at least six inches deep. Make sure it has drainage holes. You can grow single heads in narrow pots, or grow multiple plants in a wide bowl.

How many lettuce can you grow in a 5 gallon bucket?

In a 5-gallon bucket you can grow: • 1 tomato, pepper or zucchini, or • 3-4 lettuce, or • 1 cabbage or broccoli (with 15 radishes or 8 spinach), or • 15 carrots or beets, or • 6 bulbing onions, garlic or leeks, or • 8 mustards or turnips for greens.

Does lettuce like full sun or shade?

Lettuce thrives and grows fastest in full sun, but it also grows well in light shade. In warmest regions, try to select a growing spot that offers afternoon shade. The ideal soil for growing lettuce is moist but well-drained.

Can you grow lettuce in a 5 gallon bucket?

If you are a novice gardener, or new to container gardening, then loose leaf lettuce is a great place to start. Just sprinkle your seeds over the surface of the growing medium in your bucket, trying to leave a spacing of ½ to 1 inch.

Can I grow lettuce in a 1 gallon container?

So it's perfect for a one gallon container.

What is the best leaf lettuce for container gardening?

Most gardeners will tell you that a leafy variety like Black Seeded Simpson is the best lettuce to grow in containers.

How tall should lettuce be before thinning?

Lettuce seeds need light to germinate, so don't sow them too deep. Seed may be sown in single rows or broadcast for wide row planting (loose-leaf varieties are best for this). When broadcasting, thin 1- to 2-inch tall seedlings for the proper spacing.

How tall should you let lettuce grow?

Leaf lettuce starts out as others do, but unlike head lettuces, its leaves separate from each other during the growing process, with plants growing to about 8 inches at maturity.

How many heads of lettuce should I plant per person?

If you want fresh lettuce every day for salads or other dishes, we suggest growing approximately 2-3 heads of lettuce per person. Tower Tip: Get more recommendations on gardening planning in our guide.

Is it better to store lettuce in plastic or glass?

Storing lettuce in the refrigerator is easy if you have the right approach, and using glass jars instead of plastic is a perfect choice.

How long does lettuce last in a plastic container?

Many lettuce heads come wrapped in plastic at the grocery store, so you can leave it as is. Place the lettuce in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Crisphead and romaine lettuces can be stored for up to seven days. However, more delicate butterhead and loose-leaf lettuces can only be stored for up to five days.

How deep do lettuce roots grow?

Lettuce planted in compacted soil can expect a root structure to reach roughly 6 inches, while lettuce grown in loose soil can produce roots up to 21 inches, according to experiments done by the Soil and Health organization.

How much lettuce should I plant for a family of 4?

Lettuce. Grow 6 to 10 plants per person; plant succession crops with each harvest. Yield 4 to 10 pounds per 10-foot row. Space looseleaf lettuce 4 inches apart and all other types 12 inches apart in rows 16 to 24 inches apart.

How much lettuce do I need for 25 people?

FOOD	Lettuce for salad (heads)
SERVE 25	5
SERVE 50	10
SERVE 100	20

How many onion sets can you plant in a 5 gallon bucket?

A 5-‐gallon bucket works fine for growing 6 or 8 onions. A large planter box works great, or even a plastic tub. Be sure your container has good drainage holes and try to elevate it a little bit off the ground.

What plants should not be planted near lettuce?

Try to avoid growing lettuce next to broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, or kohlrabi—while some varieties of lettuce may help these cabbage-family (brassicas) crops to grow, these plants have particular root secretions that can prevent lettuce seeds from germinating.

What is the best month to plant lettuce?

Lettuce seeds germinate best in the cooler temperatures of spring or fall. If it's too hot, they won't germinate. So, the best time to plant lettuce seeds is as soon as the ground is workable in very early spring, or once the temps start to cool down in late summer or early fall.