How to Grow Lettuce in Australia
Cut-and-come-again technique, variety picks, and planting calendars for every region
Lettuce is the fastest salad crop you can grow. Some varieties are ready to pick just 4 weeks after sowing. It grows in garden beds, pots, window boxes, and even between taller crops. You can have fresh salad leaves within arm's reach of the kitchen all year round in most Australian climates.
This guide covers the best varieties, the cut-and-come-again technique, how to stop lettuce bolting in heat, and when to plant in your region.
When to Plant in Your Region
Cos (Romaine)
Upright, crisp heads with a sweet crunch. The classic Caesar salad lettuce. Heat-tolerant varieties are available for warmer regions. Takes 8 to 10 weeks to full head size, or harvest outer leaves earlier.
Butterhead
Soft, tender leaves that form a loose head. Mild, buttery flavour. Excellent in cooler months. Less heat-tolerant than Cos but faster to mature. Ready in 6 to 8 weeks.
Oakleaf
Deeply lobed, attractive leaves in green or red. One of the best cut-and-come-again varieties. Pick outer leaves and the plant keeps producing from the centre. Tolerates heat better than most types.
Iceberg
The crunchy, dense-headed lettuce. Takes longer to mature (10 to 12 weeks) and needs cooler conditions to form proper heads. Worth growing in autumn and spring in temperate regions.
Mignonette
Small, loose-headed French heirloom. Red-tinged leaves with excellent flavour. Fast-growing and compact. Ideal for pots and tight spaces. Matures in 6 to 8 weeks.
Cut-and-Come-Again Technique
This technique gives you weeks of harvests from a single sowing. Instead of growing lettuce to full head size and pulling the whole plant, you pick individual outer leaves as you need them. The plant continues to grow new leaves from the centre.
- Start picking when leaves are 10 to 15 cm long
- Always leave at least 4 to 5 inner leaves so the plant can keep growing
- Cut leaves cleanly with scissors rather than tearing
- Oakleaf, Mignonette, and loose-leaf varieties work best for this method
Bolt Prevention
Bolting (sending up a flower stalk) makes lettuce bitter and inedible. Heat and long days are the main triggers. To delay bolting:
- Grow heat-tolerant varieties in summer (Oakleaf, certain Cos types)
- Provide afternoon shade in hot regions
- Keep soil consistently moist. Drought stress triggers bolting fast
- Harvest regularly to keep plants in leaf-production mode
- In tropical and subtropical regions, grow lettuce in the cooler months (April to September) and switch to heat-tolerant greens in summer
Common Problems
Slugs and snails
The biggest pest for lettuce. They feed at night and can demolish seedlings overnight. Use iron-based pellets, beer traps, or copper tape around containers. Water in the morning so soil is drier at night when slugs are active.
Aphids
Green or brown aphids hide in leaf folds. Blast off with water or use soapy water spray. Severe infestations can stunt growth and spread disease.
Tip burn
Brown edges on inner leaves, especially on Iceberg and heading types. Caused by calcium deficiency related to uneven watering. Water consistently and mulch to maintain even soil moisture.
Track Your Lettuce Growing
Add lettuce to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for sowing, feeding, and succession planting.
Open the App →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant lettuce in Australia?
Lettuce grows in most regions from autumn through spring. In cool-temperate areas, you can grow it almost year-round. In tropical and subtropical regions, stick to the cooler months (April to September). Check the calendar above for your specific region.
How long does lettuce take to grow?
Loose-leaf varieties for cut-and-come-again harvesting can start being picked in 4 to 6 weeks. Full heads take 8 to 12 weeks depending on variety. Iceberg takes the longest at 10 to 12 weeks.
Why does my lettuce taste bitter?
Bitterness is caused by bolting (flowering) triggered by heat and long days. Grow heat-tolerant varieties in warm months, provide afternoon shade, water consistently, and harvest before the plant sends up a flower stalk.
Can I grow lettuce in pots?
Lettuce is excellent in pots, window boxes, and even colanders with drainage holes. Use a container at least 15 cm deep with good potting mix. Keep the mix consistently moist. Mignonette and Oakleaf are ideal for container growing.
See also: Lettuce in the Plant Library
