Lettuce
Lactuca sativa
Sow little and often; summer heat turns it bitter.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 11
Light: part shade to full sun
Size: about 1 ft tall, 1 ft wide
Harvest: April to October
From: Mediterranean
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Native to: Mediterranean. Hardy in zones 2 to 11.
The story
Lettuce was grown in Egypt 4,500 years ago for its oil seed, and the Romans ate the leaves at the end of a meal; Caesar salad is from Tijuana, 1924. It is the easiest crop in the garden and the first one bolts.
Planting
Full sun in spring and autumn, afternoon shade in summer; sow seed shallowly every two weeks from early spring, in rows or a patch.
Growing
Keep moist and cool; mulch and water lightly and often. Thin and eat the thinnings. Feed lightly with compost.
Harvest and use
Cut outer leaves of loose types any time; cut heads when firm. Pull plants when they bolt and taste bitter.
What to watch for
Slugs, aphids, and heat, which turns it bitter.
See if Lettuce fits your yard
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home