Lettuce has so many varieties to choose from and nearly all of them are ready to harvest within 65 days. You don’t need a large area to grow lettuce.
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Lettuce is part of the Asteraceae or Daisy family of plants. Many lettuce varieties can thrive in your Phoenix garden. Let’s grow some lettuce in Phoenix.
Phoenix Gardening Steps: Grow Lettuce in Phoenix
- Types of Lettuce
- When and How to Plant Lettuce
- What grows well near lettuce and what doesn’t?
- How to care for lettuce
- Harvesting lettuce- When is the ideal time to pick lettuce?
Types of Lettuce
Lettuce is either a loose leaf or head lettuce.
When deciding which type of lettuce to grow think about what you plan on using the lettuce for. Are you looking for a colorful mix salad or something to place on your burger? Some popular kinds to grow include:
- Boston Bib: Light lettuce, great size and texture for using in lettuce wraps.
- Butterhead Lettuce: Delicate, buttery leaves, ideal for fresh eating.
- Leaf Lettuce: Choose a red or green variety or both! Perfect lettuce for a mixed salad.
- Iceberg Lettuce: Classic and crispy, it’s great for salads and sandwiches.
- Romaine Lettuce: Known for its sturdy leaves, perfect for Caesar salads.
The Best Time to Plant Lettuce
Lettuce is a cool season vegetable. This means the best time to sow lettuce is when the temperatures are between 45-75°F. In most regions, it’s best to sow it in early spring or late summer to avoid planting during the hottest months. Find out your gardening zone.
The Best Time to Plant Lettuce in Phoenix
Lettuce can be planted in Phoenix or gardening zone 9b starting in mid-August through the first couple weeks of February.
The Best Time to Plant Lettuce in Prescott and Sedona area
Lettuce can be planted in Prescott and Sedona from mid-February to mid-April and July- September.
How to Plant Lettuce
Sow lettuce seeds about 1/4 inch deep, cover with soil and water consistently. Seeds will sprout within a few days. Most varieties of lettuce should be spaced about 6 inches apart. Loose leaf lettuces can be planted closer together than other varieties.
Succession Planting
If you eat a lot of lettuce and are looking to have a continuous supply you can practice succession planting. Plant a few lettuce plants every couple weeks for garden fresh lettuce.
Companion Plants for Lettuce:
What Grows Well Near Lettuce & What Doesn’t?
Lettuce loves to be near carrots, cucumbers, radishes, and strawberries. Rabbits love lettuce, so planting onions nearby may naturally repel these garden pests.
How to Care for Lettuce
Light Requirements: Lettuce requires full sun or about 6 – 8 hours of sun a day.
Soil Requirements: Prefers loamy well-drained soil, but lettuce can also grow well in amended clay soils as well. Lettuce like slightly acidic to neutral pH. The soil pH range of 5 to 6 is ideal.
Water Requirements: Lettuce like moist soil. Water deep and do not let the soil get dry.
Apply a couple inches of mulch around lettuce to help keep the soil moist.
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When to Harvest Lettuce
Nearly all varieties of lettuce are ready to harvest within 65 days. You can harvest the outer leaves as soon as they are large enough. If planted between mid-August and February lettuce would be ready to harvest between October and April.
Lettuce seeds can be purchased at your local nursery, home improvement store or you can purchase lettuce seeds online.