Growing lettuce from seed is quick, and it’s simple to plant them too. Once you learn how to do it, you’ll never go back to buying seedlings again.
You can start them indoors, or sow them directly into your garden. In this post, I will show you exactly when and how to do it for the best results.
Learn everything you need to know about how to grow lettuce seeds. From the best techniques to use, when to start, and how to plant them step by step – to how long it takes, seedling care tips, and transplanting – it’s all right here.
Growing Lettuce From Seed
| Days to germination | 4-10 days |
| When to start indoors | 3-4 weeks before transplanting |
| When to sow outside | 2-4 weeks after last spring frost date |
| Days to maturity | 40-50 days for leaf lettuce, 55-80 days for head lettuce |
| Sun exposure | Full sun to partial shade |
| Seed planting depth | ⅛ – ¼” deep |
| Plant spacing | 4-6” apart for looseleaf, 10-12” for head |
| Soil temperature | 60-70°F |
Types To Grow
There are tons of varieties of lettuce seeds you can grow. I like to plant several different types so I have a good mix for my salads.
Some of my favorites are Mesclun Leaf Mix, French Red Leaf, and Butterhead. Other popular options are romaine, bibb, or iceberg.
Related Post: How To Collect Lettuce Seeds From Your Garden
How Long From Seed To Harvest?
Lettuce seeds grow very quickly. On average, it only takes leafy varieties about 40-50 days from the time you plant them to the time you’ll be able to start harvesting your crop.
The ones that produce a head take longer to reach full maturity. For example, it can take anywhere from 55-80 days from seed to harvest for iceberg, romaine, or bibb.
Related Post: How To Grow Lettuce
Tips For Planting Lettuce Seeds
Sowing lettuce seeds takes a little bit of planning. Don’t just throw them into the garden and hope for the best. Set yourself up for success by planting them the right way, and at the proper time.
Lettuce Seed Starting Methods
There are three methods you could use to grow your lettuce seeds: 1. plant them directly in your garden, 2. start them indoors, 3. try winter sowing. Try them all to see which one works best for you.
- Direct sowing (best method) – I personally find it easiest to sow them directly into my garden. They grow very fast, and the small seedlings are very delicate and can be difficult to transplant.
- Starting indoors – Use this method if you want to get a head start, or if for some reason your garden is not ideal for direct seeding.
- Winter sowing – Since they are cold hardy, you could try using the winter sowing method to start your lettuce seeds. You’ll still have to transplant them into your garden, but you don’t have to care for them inside the house.
Related Post: 3 Seed Starting Methods That Every Gardener Should Try
When To Plant Lettuce Seeds
Lettuce seeds grow best in cool temperatures ranging between 60-70°F. In fact, if it’s too hot they won’t germinate.
So, the ideal time to direct sow them is as soon as the ground is workable in very early spring, or once it starts to cool down in late summer or early fall. Otherwise start them indoors 3-4 weeks before your average last spring frost date.
Related Post: When To Start Your Seeds
Lettuce Seeds Germination Time
In general, it takes somewhere between 4-10 days for lettuce seeds to germinate. In the perfect conditions, it can be as little as 2 days.
If the soil is too warm, dry, or wet, or if there’s no light, it will slow down or inhibit germination. So, if yours aren’t sprouting, then check that the temperature is between 60°F, the seeds are getting some light, and the soil is damp but not soggy.
What Do Lettuce Seedlings Look Like?
When they first sprout, lettuce seedlings are very small, and have two rounded and slightly oblong shaped leaves. Those are called the “seed leaves”.
All of the ones that form after that are called the “true leaves”. They look exactly like the mature ones, only much tinier. Once several true leaves start maturing, the seed leaves will turn yellow and die.
How To Care For Lettuce Seedlings
Once your lettuce seedlings germinate indoors, they will need extra care. If you planted them outside, then you can skip this section. Otherwise, here’s what to do to ensure success after they sprout:
Light
Both lettuce seeds and the seedlings need lots of bright light to germinate and grow their best. Make sure to use a plant light indoors so they stay compact and healthy.
Hang the lights 3-4″ above the tray or leaves at all times, and use an outlet timer so they’ll run for 12-14 hours every day.
Water
Lettuce seedlings need consistently moist soil, so never allow it to dry out completely or become too soggy. A moisture gauge is the perfect tool to help you get it just right, the reading should stay between 4-6.
Fertilizer
Once your babies have formed their first true leaves, you can start feeding them. I recommend using a half-strength dose of organic fertilizer, liquid fish emulsion, or compost tea.
Thinning
If you end up overcrowding your lettuce, then you should thin the seedlings to give each one plenty of room, especially for head varieties.
Otherwise they will compete for light, water, and nutrients. Which means you’ll have leggy plants that won’t produce a head, or they’ll have thin and limp leaves.
Transplanting Lettuce Seedlings Into The Garden
If you started your lettuce seeds indoors, then there are a few steps you must take to make sure they will survive being transplanted into your garden.
First, you must always harden them off to prepare them for life outdoors, and never skip this step. Otherwise it could kill them.
Also, it’s very important to transplant them at the right time. They hate the heat, and hot weather will trigger premature bolting.
So plant them into your garden as soon as the soil is workable in very early spring, or after your last heatwave in early fall.
FAQs
If your lettuce seeds won’t germinate, then you probably either planted them too deep, or the soil is too warm, wet, or dry. Otherwise they may not be viable, so if they’re more than two years old, add 2-3 per hole and thin them out later if necessary.
To germinate lettuce seeds faster, try soaking them for 12-24 hours before planting. Also, keep the soil cool, and give them plenty of light right from the start.
Yes, lettuce seeds do need light to germinate. Sow them in a bright location outside, or hang a grow light right above the tray indoors, and make sure that you don’t plant them deeper than 1/4″.
Growing lettuce from seed is fun, and very easy. Simply follow the detailed instructions in this guide for the best success, and the biggest bounty.
If you’re tired of struggling, and want to learn how to grow any plant you want from seed, then enroll in my online Seed Starting Course. It’s a wonderful, fun, self-paced course that will teach you everything you need to know to easily grow your own seedlings. Enroll and get started today!
Or, if you just need a refresher, then my Starting Seeds Indoors eBook is for you! It’s a quick-start guide that will get you planting seeds in no time.
Share your tips for planting lettuce seeds in the comments below.
Printable Step By Step Instructions
How To Plant Lettuce Seeds
It's easy to plant lettuce seeds indoors or outside. Simply follow these step-by-step instructions.
Materials
Instructions
- Prepare the soil or pellets - Indoors, pre-moisten the potting mix or peat pellets before planting in plastic trays. Outdoors, use your garden trowel to loosen the top inch of soil, and remove any weeds or large rocks and sticks before sowing.
- Determine how many seeds to plant - Outside, sow the seeds 4-6" apart in rows that are 12-18" apart. Indoors, plant one per hole for fresh seeds, or 2-3 per hole if they're old.
- Plant the seeds - Sprinkle the seeds over the top of the garden soil or indoor trays, or plant them no more than 1/4" deep.
- Water the soil - Use the lowest setting on your garden hose outdoors, or water the indoor trays from the bottom. The soil should be evenly moist, but not soggy.
- Cover the seed flats (optional) - If you started them indoors, cover the trays with the plastic humidity lid.
- Indoors monitor light and temperature - Put the trays in a bright location, or add a grow light. Use a soil thermometer to ensure the temperature stays between 60-70°F.
Notes
- Lettuce seeds require light to germinate, so make sure to put them in a bright area or use a grow light indoors.
Leigh Mann says
I’m so worried! We are in early spring but get summer fast! How do I care lettuce them in 106 degrees? Move them to more shade or wait until fall when they regrow? Newbie here. We wanna go after our expected last snow fall.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Since it gets so hot where you live, lettuce should definitely be a fall and winter crop for you. They hate the heat and grow best in cooler weather, and can even withstand frost. You can try planting it in the spring, but definitely give it shade and mulch the soil to help keep it cool. You might be able to get a crop or two before it bolts.
Barbara says
Hi! Great article. I started lettuce seeds indoors and then some outdoors. I’m having a problem with them being leggy. They literally got leggy in one day when they broke thru the soil. Is it ok to plant it deeper so the leaves will be at the soil level or do you have a suggestion?
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Lettuce seedlings grow very fast once the seeds germinate, so it’s important to put a grow light on them as soon as they pop out of the soil. That’s the only way to keep them from getting leggy indoors. If they’re getting leggy outdoors, then you should plant them in a location where they’ll get more direct sunlight. Here’s an article that will help… How and when to use grow lights for seedlings.
pauline says
The last two years my all year round lettuce seeds have failed to grow, i start in my green house and use a good compost which i buy from the local garden center.
Normally i have had no trouble in the past with growing these seeds, What could i doing wrong.
Amy Andrychowicz says
When lettuce seeds won’t grow, it can be caused by a few different things… They may be too old, and no longer viable. The soil may be too warm or too wet. They also need light in order to germinate, so make sure you’re not planting them too deep, and give them plenty of light right from the start. Also, I would try using a seed starting mix, rather than one that contains compost, as it may be too heavy or hold too much water.
Rich says
Dear Amy.
We are trying to grow lettuce in the kitchen window in pots. We used a plastic spray bottle to wet the surface well when the seeds were in, and then when the soil dried out re-did it. However, once the seedlings were growing we noticed that the soil was dry from about 2cm down. We put some pots in a water bath so the soil could suck up the water. However, many plants are dying and we are not sure whether it’s too ittle or too much water or something else.
Your advice would be greatly apprevciated, Thank you for your time.
Rich
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, lettuce definitely doesn’t like dry soil. So, keep it evenly moist, but be careful not to overwater it – the soil should never be soggy. If the seedlings are dying after you soaked the soil, then they may have been overwatered. Also, be sure they have enough light, they need lots of bright light. Keep them near a sunny window, or add a grow light. One other thing that can cause them to die off is seedling blight, which happens when you don’t properly clean your trays. Hope this helps you figure it out. Good luck!
Bobbie Yvette Welch says
I have not yet grown anything. But, this year I started my garden, and have included Lettuce, Tomatoes, Basil, Cilantro, Watermelon and a Lemon Tree so far. They are still in the starter phrase, and I must say so far so good. So, I am very happy that I came across your website, so that I can get more helpful hints.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sounds like a great start! Good luck, I hope everything will grow well for you!
Linda says
I tried this last year and had great results. I also tried taking the bottom you cut off and throw away, putting that in water. When it has new starts on it plant it. This worked great. Some of my lettuce from last year has restarted in the garden this year.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome!
Ashley says
We planted our first lettuce seeds the other day. This will be our first time growing it and we can’t wait. We eat salad almost everyday in the summer so its going to be nice to not run to the store for it. 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, me too! My seeds are sprouting, and I can’t wait until they’re big enough to eat!! I eat salads every day in the summer too. 🙂
Lauren says
Love this!! Would love to try planting some lettuce this spring! My garden has southern exposure. I wonder if I should try to create some shade somehow for the lettuce!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I start my lettuce seeds really early (as soon as the soil is ready to be worked in the spring) so they have plenty of time to grow and produce before the heat of summer sets in. If it’s too late for that this year, then yes, I would put them in a shadier spot. You can tuck them into raised beds next to or under other vegetables that are fast growing and can provide shade as the sun gets hotter (like beans, squash and cucumbers). Then as those warm weather plants start to take over, your lettuce will be done anyway.
Tom says
I really like lettuce because it’s quick and easy to grow like you said and works well in pots. Plus, I have to small girls ages 3 and 5 and for whatever reason (I know this is insane) but if we “Grow” something as a family they will eat it. If we buy it from the store, it’s a different ball game. Anything to get my kids to eat healthy.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes! Kids eat what they grow, so keep on gardening with them. Love it! P.S. Kids especially love stuff that is fast and easy to grow from seed, like lettuce! 🙂
Anna says
This is a fantastic article on something that surprisingly not a lot of folks know! With is interesting given the demand for very fresh and high quality food.
Another great thing about growing your own lettuce from seed is you get to try some really neat varieties that you won’t find anywhere else. Lettuce comes in so many forms, shapes, colors, textures, and flavors- it’s quite amazing what we miss out on if we stick to store-bought lettuce.
I’ve grown lettuce in all sorts of containers. I’ve even grown it in my kitchen under a simple daylight spectrum compact fluorescent bulb in a lamp. I do herbs this way too. It’s the only way I’ve tried that works for getting fresh lettuce (and herbs) during our winters here in Minnesota.
Great post Amy, as always!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks! I love that you grow lettuce through the winter in Minnesota! I need to try that sometime.
Molls says
I grew my own lettuce this spring for the first time. The good news is, it was awesome. The bad news is, I can no longer tolerate storebought. I am saving seeds from my plants and I want to try to grow year round. You mentioned growing in pots in kitchen? I’ve wondered if those hydroponic growing systems are worth the hype. I just want fresh lettuce all the time! Thanks for your post.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes I agree, it’s hard to settle for store-bought once you realize how easy (and delicious) it is to grow lettuce from seed. I’ve never tried doing it hydroponically myself, but I know lots of people have great success with it.
Amy says
Wow!
It looks like it is coming along just nicely!
I first grew lettuce as part of a school project when I was younger, then last year I decided to do it again and I can tell you something, I have NEVER tasted anything like it!
Lettuce tastes 100% better when home-grown.
Great Post- I love it! Thanks for sharing!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, I totally agree! I miss my garden fresh lettuce through the winter, and crave it! Glad you decided to grow it again, now you’ll be hooked! 🙂
Naomi says
Isn’t lettuce a great plant! My husband tasted fresh garden lettuce for the first time last year and then during the winter he wouldn’t eat the store bought stuff because he said it had no taste! I’m thinking that I’m going to try and rig up some plastic and hoops to make one of those mini green houses over part of my garden so that I can continue to grow lettuce and other greens over the winter.
Lettuce is such a great beginner plant because as you said there really is nothing to it except to toss the seeds on the soil. Absolutely love it. Last year I was prego and didn’t have a whole lot of energy so the lettuce I planted bolted early…but now I’ve got lots of little lettuce seedlings popping up all over my yard. Now I just need to dig them up and put them in my garden so they don’t get run over by the lawn mower!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, I love it too. I am like your husband and hate getting lettuce from the store during the winter!! I wish I could grow it year round under a hoop, that would be awesome! Have fun if you decide to give it a try.