Saratoga - Burgundy red lettuce with frilly leaves that fade to green. Upright habit and midseason tolerance, adding loft and shimmer to salads.
Lettuce Growing Guide
Outdoor Sowing (Directly in the Garden)
- Timing: Sow lettuce seeds outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring, typically 2-4 weeks before the last frost date. For a continuous harvest, sow additional seeds every 2 weeks.
- Location: Choose a sunny spot or a partially shaded area, especially in warmer climates. Lettuce prefers cool temperatures and well-draining, fertile soil.
- Soil Preparation: Loosen the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches and incorporate compost or a balanced fertilizer to improve fertility and drainage.
- Planting Seeds:
- Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep, as lettuce requires light to germinate.
- Space seeds 1 inch apart in rows or scatter them in a wide bed. For head lettuce, thin to 10-12 inches apart once seedlings emerge.
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist until germination, which typically takes 7-10 days. Once established, water regularly to prevent the leaves from becoming bitter, especially during dry spells.
Indoor Sowing (Starting Seeds Indoors)
- Timing: Start lettuce seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date for an earlier harvest.
- Containers: Use shallow trays or small pots filled with a light, well-draining seed-starting mix.
- Planting:
- Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep, lightly pressing them into the soil surface.
- Keep the soil evenly moist by misting gently.
- Germination:
- Maintain a temperature of 60-70°F for optimal germination.
- Expect seedlings to emerge within 7-10 days.
- Transplanting: Transplant seedlings outdoors when they have 3-4 true leaves and the soil temperature is consistently above 40°F. Space plants 4-6 inches apart for leaf varieties or 10-12 inches apart for head varieties.
General Care Tips for Lettuce
- Sunlight: Provide full sun in cooler weather or partial shade in warmer weather. Lettuce thrives in cooler temperatures and can bolt (go to seed) in hot weather.
- Watering: Water consistently to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Mulch around plants to retain moisture and keep the soil cool.
- Fertilizing: Lettuce is a light feeder. Incorporate compost into the soil before planting and side-dress with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer every few weeks to encourage leafy growth.
- Weeding: Keep the area weed-free to reduce competition for nutrients and moisture. Mulching helps control weed growth and maintain soil moisture.
- Harvesting: Harvest leaf lettuce as soon as the leaves are large enough to eat, or allow head lettuce to mature fully before cutting. For cut-and-come-again harvesting, trim leaves 1 inch above the soil line and allow them to regrow.
