Lettuce grows fast and fresh — but only if you start it in the right soil and sow it smartly. Whether you’re growing leaf, butterhead, romaine, or crisphead varieties, your first step determines how tender and flavorful your harvest will be.
Soil Prep for Lettuce
Lettuce loves:
- Loose, well-drained soil with good moisture retention
- High organic matter from compost or worm castings
- A neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.0–6.8)
- Cool soil (ideal sowing temp: 10–18°C)
Prep steps:
- Loosen soil 6–8 inches deep and remove clumps
- Mix in aged compost and a touch of balanced fertilizer
- Rake the surface smooth — lettuce seeds are tiny and need good seed-to-soil contact
Sowing Tips for Lettuce
- Direct sow outdoors as soon as soil is workable in early spring
- Sow 1/8 to ¼ inch deep — lettuce needs light to germinate
- Space seeds ½ inch apart in rows or broadcast and thin later
- Mist gently and keep soil consistently moist
- Germination takes 7–10 days in cool soil
Stagger your plantings every 1–2 weeks for a continuous harvest.
With AiFarming: Get precise sowing dates for your location, optimal depth and spacing guides, and soil prep checklists — all tailored to your lettuce variety and growing space.