Spring
Lettuce prefers well-drained soil and plenty of organic matter. In May or June direct seed lettuce (we prefer this to transplanting especially for those with small spaces). Sprouting occurs in cool but not cold soil. Add mulch such as straw around plants as they grow.
Summer
During the height of summer, tender lettuce can wilt or bolt quickly. Protect it from the heat and direct, intense sun with a shade cloth. Continue to harvest your lettuce through out the summer as leafy greens have high water content and are some of the best foods for extreme heat. Add lettuce to salads, or, if you have a glut, use a juicer and freeze for the rest of the year.
Fall
In late summer or early fall clear spent garden beds and prepare with compost. Plant a second crop of cool season lettuce. That way you can extend your harvest into fall.
Winter
Our short season in zone 3 means looking for alternatives to lettuce during the coldest months of the year. Try sprouting, regrowing grocery store stalks and stems on a windowsill or LED hydroponic tabletop growers.
CSL Tip
You can get texture, flavour and colour with vegetables alone. Combine lettuce, radishes, edible flowers and mustard leaves.
This original article first appeared in the SPRING 2025 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
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