Vegetable · Asteraceae family

lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Full sun to part shade 0.15–0.3 m × 0.2–0.3 m Sow March–August Harvest April–October Moderate care
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lettuce
0.15–0.3 mmature height
April–Octoberharvest
Photo: Forest & Kim Starr · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In short a 10-second read

Lettuce (vegetable) grows to 0.15–0.3 m tall and 0.2–0.3 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Sow in March–August. Harvest in April–October.

SunFull sun to part shade
Size0.15–0.3 m
× spread 0.2–0.3 m
SowingMarch–August
HarvestApril–October
Pruning
MayJunJulAugSepOct
WinterDoes not overwinter
CareModerate care

Where to plant

Sun and soil.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.

Soil and water

average to moist · watering: moderate

Soil: loamy, humus-rich

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

Next to a person

50 cm1 m1.5 m0.15–0.3 mspread 0.2–0.3 m

The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

What to do and when.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Pruning: JanuaryPruning: FebruaryPruning: MarchPruning: AprilPruning: MayPruning: JunePruning: JulyPruning: AugustPruning: SeptemberPruning: OctoberPruning: NovemberPruning: DecemberSowing: JanuarySowing: FebruarySowing: MarchSowing: AprilSowing: MaySowing: JuneSowing: JulySowing: AugustSowing: SeptemberSowing: OctoberSowing: NovemberSowing: DecemberHarvest: JanuaryHarvest: FebruaryHarvest: MarchHarvest: AprilHarvest: MayHarvest: JuneHarvest: JulyHarvest: AugustHarvest: SeptemberHarvest: OctoberHarvest: NovemberHarvest: DecemberWinter protection: JanuaryWinter protection: FebruaryWinter protection: MarchWinter protection: AprilWinter protection: MayWinter protection: JuneWinter protection: JulyWinter protection: AugustWinter protection: SeptemberWinter protection: OctoberWinter protection: NovemberWinter protection: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PruningSowingHarvest
Now, in October: time to prune (harvest regularly).

Pruning

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

harvest regularly (May–October)

Sowing

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

direct sowing: March–August

Harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April–October

Winter protection

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

does not overwinter

What to combine it with

Ready-made combinations.

Ready-made Studio combinations that include lettuce

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Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When do I sow lettuce?

In March–August (direct sowing).

When is lettuce harvested?

In April–October.

Does lettuce tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does lettuce need?

At maturity 0.2–0.3 m wide and 0.15–0.3 m tall; recommended spacing 30 cm.

Where the data comes from

The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 31 August 2026.

Show sources (3)

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