🥗 Lettuce
🍴 Overview
Crop: Lettuce
Common Varieties in OK: ‘Buttercrunch’, ‘Black Seeded Simpson’, ‘Romaine’, ‘Red Sails’
Planting Season: Early spring and again in late summer for fall crop
Days to Maturity: 30–60 days depending on variety
🎨 Trait Legend
🟩 Cool-season – Struggles in heat, bolts fast
🥬 Leafy green – Harvested for foliage
⛅ Part shade OK – Benefits from afternoon shade in late spring
🌱 Replant OK – Succession plant every 2–3 weeks
📏 Spacing & Soil
Row Spacing: 12–18 inches
Plant Spacing: 6–12 inches depending on type
Soil Needs: Loose, rich soil with compost; pH 6.0–6.8
Fertilizer: Light compost or diluted fish emulsion — avoid high nitrogen
🌱 Cultivars We Recommend
‘Buttercrunch’ 🟩
Tender heads with crisp hearts. Heat-tolerant for lettuce.
‘Black Seeded Simpson’ 🟩
Fast-growing looseleaf — great for cut-and-come-again.
‘Romaine’ (various types) 🟩
Upright, crunchy leaves. Harvest whole heads or outer leaves.
‘Red Sails’ 🟩
Colorful and sweet. Handles warmth better than most.
🧠 Tips
Mulch and water regularly — dry soil = bitter leaves
Harvest early in the morning for best flavor
Partial shade in hot weather helps extend the season
Use succession planting to keep salads coming
Protect with row covers if planting early — frost may nip it