How far apart to plant lettuce
Virginia Cooperative Extension and Colorado State University Extension space lettuce 6 to 10 inches apart in the row, with rows 10 to 18 inches apart. In a raised bed, 7 to 9 inches each way suits leaf lettuce, and the UC Master Gardeners square foot guide fits 4 plants per square foot. Head lettuce needs more room: Utah State University Extension sets heads 8 to 12 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart, and UF/IFAS Extension's square foot guide gives one head per square.
How many lettuce plants fit a raised bed
| Bed | Leaf, 8 in each way | Leaf, square foot (4 per sq ft) | Head, 10 in each way | Head, square foot (1 per sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 ft | 36 | 64 | 16 | 16 |
| 4 × 8 ft | 72 | 128 | 36 | 32 |
| 3 × 6 ft | 36 | 72 | 21 | 18 |
| 4 × 12 ft | 108 | 192 | 56 | 48 |
The calculator opens on the leaf lettuce figures, 8 inches in a square pattern, keeping half a spacing clear along each edge. Choose Head lettuce in the variety list to switch to 10 inches, the middle of the 8 to 12 inch range. The square foot counts fill every square to the bed edge, so they run higher for leaf lettuce, where 4 per square means plants 6 inches apart.
In rows, a 10 ft row at 8 inches holds 15 plants and a 25 ft row holds 37. Head lettuce at 10 inches gives 12 and 30.
Head or leaf lettuce?
- Leaf lettuce is picked a few outer leaves at a time. Utah State says you can harvest it any time after the leaves form, before the seed stalk appears, and the young center keeps growing. Plants can sit closer because no one waits for a head.
- Head lettuce (crisphead) is cut once, when the head is firm. Butterhead and cos (romaine) are cut in the early heading stage. Each plant needs the full 8 to 12 inches to form a good head.
How deep and when
Sow lettuce seed ¼ to ½ inch deep, 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost (Utah State). The seed germinates best at 55 to 65°F, and germination drops above 80°F, so lettuce is a spring and fall crop. Johnny's Selected Seeds sows again every 2 to 3 weeks for a steady supply. Your own dates are on the lettuce planting dates page, and the succession planting planner spaces out the later sowings.
Lettuce in containers
Colorado State and Virginia Tech call for at least 8 inches of soil for lettuce. Texas A&M AgriLife's container guide (E-545) grows 2 leaf lettuce plants in a 1 gallon pot.
Using the calculator
Pick a bed, a row or an area, and choose Square, Triangular (staggered) or Rows. For how much lettuce a household eats, see lettuce per person. To mix lettuce with other crops in one bed, use the square foot gardening calculator.