Lettuce
Easy salad leaves for almost any spot. Sow a small batch every few weeks for non‑stop picking from spring to autumn.
Things to look out for
- Slugs love seedlings — protect young plants
- In hot weather sow in light shade so plants don’t bolt
- Sow a small row every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply
What to sow
Sow thinly in shallow lines outside, or in small pots/modules. Lettuce seed needs light to germinate, so cover only very lightly.
UK window: Mar–Sep (direct or modules)
What to plant out
Thin or transplant when plants have a few real leaves. Space loose‑leaf types ~20 cm apart, hearting types ~30 cm.
UK window: Apr–Sep
How to care
Keep soil evenly damp. A little afternoon shade in midsummer stops leaves turning bitter. Slug protection helps a lot when plants are small.
When to harvest
Pick outer leaves as soon as they’re big enough, or cut whole heads at the base. Cut‑and‑come‑again types regrow several times.
UK window: May–Oct