Lactuca sativa
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lak-TOO-kah sa-TEE-vah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Lettuce is an erect, edible, annual, cool season vegetable plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is native from the Mediterranean to Siberia and has been bred to grow in an array of shapes, colors, and textures for a variety of growth conditions, storage purposes and interest on a plate. The general categories of lettuce types include head lettuce, romaine, leaf lettuce and butterhead (loose head).
Lettuce grows best in full sun to partial shade and organically rich, moist, well-drained soils. Optimal pH ranges from 6 to 6.7. Lettuce enjoys the cool weather of spring and fall. If grown during summer, give the plant 3 to 4 hours of sun daily and shade the rest of the day. Lettuce has a shallow root system and requires consistently moist soil for proper growth and flavor. Both high temperatures (70 to 80 degrees F) and dry soil can trigger plants to bolt and flower, turning the leaves bitter and stopping leaf production. Consider planting heat-tolerant varieties, if growing lettuce in warm climates. Leaf and butterhead types tolerate heat better than romaine, which itself does better in heat than head lettuce. Propagate lettuce by seed.
For a spring crop, seeds can either be started indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost for later transplanting or directly seeded two weeks before the last frost. For a fall crop, sow seeds three months before the first frost. Plant seeds to a depth of 1⁄4 to 3⁄8 inch. Different lettuce types need different spacing; head lettuce generally needs 10 inches between plants and leaf lettuce 4 to 6 inches. Alternatively, leaf lettuce seed can be sprinkled on top of the soil or mixed into the top 1 inch layer. Lettuce can also be grown in containers that are a minimum of 2 quarts volume and 6 to 8 inches deep. Plant additional seed at two week intervals to extend the harvest.
Leaves can be harvested either by removing individual baby leaves (2 to 3 inches long) for a continuous harvest or by cutting the whole plant at or above the soil surface. Lettuce rapidly grows to 6 to 12 inches tall and wide. If removing leaf by leaf, take the outer leaves first to allow the central leaves to continue to grow. Head lettuce is ready to harvest 70 to 80 days after seeding or 60 to 70 days after transplanting while leaf lettuce is ready 50 to 60 days after seeding and 30 to 45 days after transplanting.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Lettuce is attacked by aphids, armyworms, imported cabbage worms and loopers. The pest pressure on summer and fall crops is much greater than on spring crops. Damping-off is a serious disease of young seedlings, whereas mildews and sclerotinia are serious on mature plants.
More information on growing, purchasing and cooking lettuce
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Vegetable Garden at Reynolda Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Allstar Mix'
Leaf lettuce; mix of red and green varities; high performing - 'Bibb'
Loose head lettuce; green leaves with mild flavor and tender texture - 'Black-seeded Simpson'
Loose head lettuce; green leaves; good for early spring - 'Buttercrunch'
Loose head lettuce; green leaves with mild flavor and tender texture; AAS winner, bolt resistant - 'Green Oakleaf'
Loose head lettuce; green deeply lobed leaves like an oak leaf; good for baby lettuce - 'Ithaca'
Head lettuce strain; grows well in NC - 'Jericho'
Romaine lettuce; forms a green-leafed head; heat tolerant, good for spring planting - Lactuca sativa var. augustana ('Celtuce')
Grown for its long, thick stem; popular in China and Taiwan - 'New Red Fire'
Loose head lettuce; red and green ruffled leaves; heat and bolt resistant - 'Pennlake'
Head lettuce strain; grows well in NC; AAS winner - 'Red Sails'
Loose head lettuce; red, ruffled leaves; AAS winner, decorative and easy to grow - 'Salinas'
Head lettuce strain; grows well in NC
- 'Allstar Mix'
- 'Allstar Mix', 'Bibb', 'Black-seeded Simpson', 'Buttercrunch', 'Green Oakleaf', 'Ithaca', 'Jericho', Lactuca sativa var. augustana ('Celtuce'), 'New Red Fire', 'Pennlake', 'Red Sails', 'Salinas'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Allstar Mix'
Leaf lettuce; mix of red and green varities; high performing - 'Bibb'
Loose head lettuce; green leaves with mild flavor and tender texture - 'Black-seeded Simpson'
Loose head lettuce; green leaves; good for early spring - 'Buttercrunch'
Loose head lettuce; green leaves with mild flavor and tender texture; AAS winner, bolt resistant - 'Green Oakleaf'
Loose head lettuce; green deeply lobed leaves like an oak leaf; good for baby lettuce - 'Ithaca'
Head lettuce strain; grows well in NC - 'Jericho'
Romaine lettuce; forms a green-leafed head; heat tolerant, good for spring planting - Lactuca sativa var. augustana ('Celtuce')
Grown for its long, thick stem; popular in China and Taiwan - 'New Red Fire'
Loose head lettuce; red and green ruffled leaves; heat and bolt resistant - 'Pennlake'
Head lettuce strain; grows well in NC; AAS winner - 'Red Sails'
Loose head lettuce; red, ruffled leaves; AAS winner, decorative and easy to grow - 'Salinas'
Head lettuce strain; grows well in NC
- 'Allstar Mix'
- 'Allstar Mix', 'Bibb', 'Black-seeded Simpson', 'Buttercrunch', 'Green Oakleaf', 'Ithaca', 'Jericho', Lactuca sativa var. augustana ('Celtuce'), 'New Red Fire', 'Pennlake', 'Red Sails', 'Salinas'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lactuca
- Species:
- sativa
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mediterranean to Siberia
- Edibility:
- Leaves can be used raw or cooked in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. Head lettuce can be stored for 2-3 weeks while leaf and butterhead store for 1-2 weeks.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Cool Season Vegetable
- Edible
- Vegetable
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Tiny seeds with a dandelion-like tuft (pappus) to aid in wind dispersal.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, yellow flowers on tall stalks, each petal ended in fine teeth. Flowering is generally considered undesirable as it turns the leaves bitter and stops plant growth.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Obovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Denticulate
- Entire
- Lobed
- Sinuate
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Wide variety of shapes from round to ragged and wavy. Most often green, but whites, yellows, and red-purples are also common in solid, streaked, or speckled patterns.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Very short, growing longer with bolting.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis