Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Lightmoderate to high

Waterconsistent moisture

↑ Gives back

Mulch_biomassedible leaves

Chives

Chives are said to deter aphids from lettuce.

Radish

Radishes grow quickly and can be harvested before lettuce needs the space.

Parsnip

Lettuce provides ground cover and helps retain soil moisture.

Carrot

Lettuce provides ground cover, keeping soil cool and moist for carrots.

Dill

Dill is a good companion for lettuce, potentially improving growth.

Chervil

Chervil is said to improve the flavor and growth of lettuce.

JFMAMJJASOND

emergenceLettuce seeds germinate when soil temperatures are consistently above 5°C.

floweringFlowering is typically induced by long days and warm temperatures, leading to bolting.

harvestHarvest can begin when leaves are large enough, typically 45-75 days after emergence, depending on variety and desired size.

senescencePlants senesce after flowering and seed set, often accelerated by hot, long days.

Drainagewell-drained

Nitrogen fixingNo

MycorrhizalNo

Soil textureloam, sandy_loam

Organic matterLow

Compaction toleranceLow

Methodsseed

Difficulty1 / 5

Establishes in~0 yr

Stratificationnone

Self-seedingModerate

Can host pestsaphids, slugs, snails, cutworms

Can host diseasesdowny mildew, powdery mildew, lettuce mosaic virus