Lettuce seedlings are young plants that grow from lettuce seeds:
Germination
Lettuce seeds should germinate in 7–14 days in a soil temperature of 8–23°C.
Transplanting
Transplant seedlings to the garden when they are 5–10 cm tall and have their first true leaves. Space plants 20–50 cm apart.
Harvesting
You can pick loose-leaf lettuce varieties after six weeks, and hearting types after 10 weeks.
Protection
Protect seedlings from high heat, heavy rain, snails, and birds. You can use a DIY cloche or netting.
Soil
Use a good quality seed-raising mix or soil starter pellets. Keep the soil moist but not wet or dry.
Light
Place seedlings in a sheltered propagation area or a shaded space with around 4 hours of partial or direct sunlight.
Thinning
Thin seedlings out when they're big enough to handle. You can replant the thinnings into any gaps, or eat them as baby leaves.
Varieties
Different varieties of lettuce have different nutrient levels and maturity times. For example, iceberg lettuce matures in 70–80 days, butterhead matures in 55–75 days, and romaine matures in 70 days.
