Sow 2-3 seeds on the surface of the starting medium, and lightly tamp down.

Fill a cell with sterile seed starting mix.How do I start and transplant lettuce seedlings? As you get closer to warmer weather, start sowing varieties that are heat-tolerant and bolt-resistant. We recommend starting your lettuce succession planting with cold-hardy varieties. Sow more romaine lettuce seeds every two weeks in the spring and early summer to have continuous lettuce harvests. Once seedlings have grown to about 1″ in height, thin the plants to one lettuce plant for every 9-11 inches.Water carefully (the mister setting on an adjustable hose nozzle is perfect for this), and keep the top of the soil damp until germination.Romaine lettuce needs a bit more spacing to grow the large heads, so we recommend sowing 2-3 seeds every 9-12 inches (depending on the size of romaine variety you are growing). Lettuce seeds need light to germinate, so you don’t want to cover them too much. Sow seeds on top of the soil, lightly tamp down, and just barely cover with a dusting of soil.Amend the soil with compost before planting.Like most vegetables, romaine lettuce plants enjoy loose, rich soil with good drainage. You can start harvesting leaves from the outside of the plants within 30 days or so.

Most romaine lettuce varieties will be ready to harvest as full heads within 50-75 days. How long does it take to grow romaine lettuce? You can do this with shade fabric or by planting the lettuce seedlings around the base of a tall plant (like your tomatoes). Depending on your climate, you might need to protect the young lettuce seedlings from the punishing heat of late summer. Direct sow lettuce seeds 6-8 weeks before your first frost in the fall. In milder climates, you can sow lettuce again in the late summer for a fall harvest. But if you want fresh veggies earlier in the spring, starting some seedlings indoors can give you a head start so you’re well on your way to crisp spring salads. Because lettuce plants produce relatively quickly, you can direct sow the seeds and still have plenty of time to harvest from each plant more than once. Should I grow romaine lettuce from seeds or plants?īoth are great options for growing romaine lettuce.

Winter Density is a more cold-tolerant variety, making it a good choice for northern climates with chillier springs.

Like Valmaine, it is slower to bolt than most romaine varieties.

Cimmaron has dark red-purple leaves and a green heart.

Little Gem is a dwarf variety with green leaves that is great for tight spaces.

Truchas produces mini heads-which are perfect for single folks or small families. It is truly one of the most beautiful lettuces we’ve ever grown.

Truchas has beautiful ombre leaves that go from deep, dark burgundy at the tips to bright lime green at the core.

It has a slightly more open head, but still has the crisp leaves you expect from cos lettuce.

Flashy Trout’s Back is a green and red speckled lettuce (see the photo above) that looks beautiful in a salad bowl.

It is bright lime green and produces huge heads that will make a big enough Caesar salad to feed an entire family! It is a favorite in the Growfully gardens! We have grown it for well over a decade.

Valmaine is a more heat-tolerant romaine lettuce variety.

But romaine isn’t just one kind of lettuce-there are lots of romaine lettuce varieties! These are some of our favorites: Romaine is a type of heading lettuce with upright, more elongated leaves. There are two main types of lettuce: heading lettuces and looseleaf lettuce. In fact, all lettuces will appreciate a little afternoon shade-especially during the hotter parts of the year.Īre there different varieties of romaine lettuce? If you don’t have a full sun spot for lettuce, you can plant it where the romaine will get morning sun and light afternoon shade. Leafy greens such as lettuce are the most tolerant of shade, but the plants still need at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun a day. In particular, we think romaine is the easiest of all lettuces to grow! Can romaine lettuce grow in shade? It isn’t particularly fussy and it grows quickly, so you can enjoy some bounty from the garden relatively early. Whenever we get asked about good vegetables for beginners to grow, lettuce and radishes are at the top of our list.

Can you cut and come again romaine lettuce?ĭefinitely.

What can I plant near my romaine lettuce?.

How can I help my growing romaine lettuce plants thrive?.

How do I start and transplant lettuce seedlings?.

How long does it take to grow romaine lettuce?.

Should I grow romaine lettuce from seeds or plants?.

Are there different varieties of romaine lettuce?.

Lettuce romaine artisan