Also known as Bibb Lettuce · Common English Lettuce · Common Lettuce
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a cool-season annual herb grown for its edible leaves, forming a compact head or loose rosette.
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Full Sun to Partial Shade
75% intensity
Prefers at least 6 hours of sunlight daily, but can tolerate some shade in hot climates.
Consistent Moisture
75% intensity
Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
Well-drained, fertile soil
50% intensity
Cool Weather Crop
50% intensity
Ideal temperatures range from 15-20°C. Avoid extreme heat or frost.
Outdoor, Indoor
50% intensity
Moderate Feeder
50% intensity
Benefits from balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 3-4 weeks.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
| Edible | Yes |
None
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Lettuce requires consistent moisture, especially during warm weather. Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry, aiming to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
Avoid overhead watering to reduce the risk of fungal diseases. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation are ideal for maintaining soil moisture.
Pruning is generally not necessary for lettuce as it is harvested by removing the entire plant or outer leaves.
If larger plants start to bolt (send up a flower stalk), remove the affected parts to encourage continued leaf production. This is more akin to selective harvesting than traditional pruning.
Lettuce is primarily grown from seed. Seeds can be sown directly into the garden bed or started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. For continuous harvest, sow seeds every 2-3 weeks.
Lettuce is not typically propagated by cuttings or division.
Lettuce is typically grown as an annual and is not repotted. Plants are usually harvested before they outgrow their initial planting space.
If growing in containers, select a container size appropriate for the mature plant, and repotting is rarely needed.
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Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Where Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is found
Density
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12 known issues from plant disease data
Big Vein on Lettuce causes thick pale veins and crinkled leaves, slowing growth and leaving heads misshapen, small, and low quality.
Lettuce Dieback on Lettuce causes yellowing, severe stunting, and dead outer leaves, often leaving heads small, weak, and unmarketable.
Anthracnose on Lettuce causes sunken dark spots on leaves and midribs that enlarge, dry out, and weaken leaf quality and appearance.
Verticillium Wilt on Lettuce causes older leaves to yellow and wilt, with plants collapsing slowly and heads staying small and poor quality.
Fusarium Wilt on Lettuce causes yellowing, one-sided wilting, and browning near the base, leaving heads stunted and collapsed.
Botrytis Crown Rot on Lettuce causes soft brown rot at the crown with fuzzy gray mold, leading to rapid collapse of the head.
Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Asterales |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Genus | Lactuca |
| Species | Lactuca sativa |
Similar in genus Lactuca
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data
