How to Grow Lettuce in Australia
Updated June 2026
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.
What it looks like as it grows
Which Lettuce, When?
Lettuce lives or dies by the weather. Pick the wrong type for the season and it bolts to seed and turns bitter; pick the right one and you have crisp leaves for weeks. Choose your season and climate and the selector tells you which types to grow, your bolt risk, and how often to sow.
Position and Soil
Lettuce likes full sun in the cooler months but appreciates afternoon shade once the weather warms. It is shallow-rooted and thrives in soil rich in organic matter that holds moisture without staying waterlogged. Dig through plenty of compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
Because lettuce grows fast, it needs steady access to water and nutrients. A bed that dries out or runs short of feed checks growth and pushes plants towards bolting. In hot regions, a spot that catches morning sun and afternoon shade extends the season noticeably.
Sowing
Lettuce seed is tiny and needs light to germinate, so barely cover it. Sow direct in shallow rows or raise seedlings in punnets and transplant when they have a few true leaves. Seed germinates best between 10 and 20 degrees; above about 25 degrees it can go dormant, so in hot weather sow in the cool of the evening and keep the surface damp.
The secret to a steady supply is succession: sow a short row or a punnet every 2 to 3 weeks rather than one big planting. By the time one batch slows, the next is ready to pick.
Spacing
Space heading types like Iceberg, Cos, and butterhead about 25 to 30 cm apart so heads have room to fill. Loose-leaf types grown for cut-and-come-again can go closer, around 15 to 20 cm, or be sown thickly and thinned as you eat the thinnings. Good spacing keeps air moving, which cuts down fungal problems and slug damage.
Watering and Feeding
Keep the soil consistently moist. Lettuce is more than ninety per cent water, and any check from drying out makes it bitter and triggers bolting. Water in the morning so leaves dry through the day, which also leaves the soil drier at night when slugs feed.
Feed every couple of weeks with a liquid fertiliser or seaweed solution to keep growth fast and leaves tender. Slow-grown lettuce is tough and bitter; fast-grown lettuce is sweet and crisp. Mulch around plants to hold moisture and keep the roots cool.
Cut-and-Come-Again Technique
This method gives weeks of harvests from a single sowing. Instead of growing to full head size and pulling the whole plant, you pick individual outer leaves as you need them while the plant keeps growing 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, where the plant sends up a flower stalk, makes lettuce bitter and inedible. Heat, long days, and drought stress are the triggers. To hold it off:
- Grow heat-tolerant types in the warm months (loose-leaf, Oakleaf, heat-tolerant Cos such as Great Lakes)
- Provide afternoon shade in hot regions
- Keep the soil consistently moist, since drought stress triggers bolting fast
- Harvest regularly to keep plants in leaf-production mode
- In subtropical and tropical regions, grow lettuce in the cooler months (roughly 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, and water in the morning so the soil is drier at night when they are active.
Aphids
Green or brown aphids hide in leaf folds. Blast them off with water or use a soapy water spray. Heavy infestations stunt growth and spread disease.
Tip burn
Brown edges on inner leaves, especially on Iceberg and heading types. Caused by a calcium shortfall linked to uneven watering. Water consistently and mulch to keep soil moisture even.
Bitterness and bolting
Brought on by heat, drought stress, and long days. Grow heat-tolerant types in warm weather, keep the water up, give afternoon shade, and pick before a flower stalk forms.
Harvest
Pick lettuce in the cool of the morning when leaves are crisp and full of water. For cut-and-come-again, take outer leaves and leave the centre to regrow. For heading types, cut the whole head at the base once it is firm and full. Harvest before the plant starts to elongate and bolt, as flavour turns bitter quickly once it does.
Varieties
| Variety | Type | Days to harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cos (Romaine) | Upright heading | 55 to 70 | Crisp, sweet, the classic Caesar lettuce. Heat-tolerant strains suit warmer regions. Pick outer leaves early or wait for full heads. |
| Great Lakes | Crisphead (Iceberg) | 70 to 85 | The most heat-tolerant heading lettuce. Stands warm weather better than other Iceberg types. Crunchy, dense heads. |
| Butterhead | Loose heading | 45 to 60 | Soft, tender, buttery leaves. Best in the cooler months. Fast to mature but bolts quickly in heat. |
| Oakleaf | Loose-leaf | 40 to 55 | Lobed leaves in green or red. One of the best cut-and-come-again types and tolerates heat well. |
| Mignonette | Loose-leaf | 45 to 60 | Compact French heirloom with red-tinged leaves and fine flavour. Ideal for pots and tight spaces. |
| Iceberg | Crisphead | 70 to 85 | Dense, crunchy heads. Needs cool conditions to heart up. Best grown in autumn and spring in temperate zones. |
Track Your Lettuce Growing
Add lettuce to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for each succession sowing, feeding, and harvest time.
Open the App →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant lettuce in Australia?
In cool and temperate zones you can sow lettuce almost year-round, with autumn and spring the easiest seasons. In hot, subtropical, and tropical regions, stick to the cooler months (roughly autumn to spring, April to September) and grow only heat-tolerant types in summer. Sow a fresh batch every 2 to 3 weeks for a steady supply.
How long does lettuce take to grow?
Loose-leaf varieties picked cut-and-come-again can start 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, long days, and drought stress. Grow heat-tolerant varieties in warm months, provide afternoon shade, water consistently, and harvest before the plant sends up a flower stalk.
Which lettuce is best for hot weather?
In heat, grow loose-leaf and heat-tolerant Cos types such as Great Lakes, Oakleaf, and Cos. Avoid butterhead and tight-heading types in summer, as they bolt and turn bitter fast. Pick young, give afternoon shade, and sow in the cool of the evening.
How do I get a steady supply of lettuce?
Sow a short row or punnet every 2 to 3 weeks rather than one big planting. By the time one batch is slowing down, the next is ready to pick. The cut-and-come-again method stretches each sowing even further.
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 and keep it consistently moist. Mignonette and Oakleaf are ideal for containers.
See also: Lettuce in the Plant Library
