How to grow Lettuce in Australia
Lettuce is one of the quickest and easiest vegetables, ready to pick in as little as six to eight weeks. Loose-leaf types such as Green Mignonette and cos can be picked a few leaves at a time for weeks, while hearting types such as iceberg and butterhead are cut whole. Lettuce loves cool, mild weather; heat and dry soil make it bitter and send it to seed.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Lettuces in Australia: Sowing and Companion Plants
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | January to October | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | January to October | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | January to October | Year-round in mild coastal areas; April to Sept most reliable; avoid peak summer heat. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to September | Sow from March to September: autumn sowings from March to May, winter sowings from May to July and spring sowings from July to September. Melbourne's long cool season suits lettuce. |
| Adelaide & SA | April to October | Mediterranean: avoid Dec to Feb heat. Sow Apr to Oct for autumn-winter harvest. Lettuce bolts above 25°C. |
| Perth & WA | April to October | Sow from April to October. Hold off in March, when late heat spikes bolt it. Summer sowings from November to February sit outside this calendar and only succeed on the Coastal Strip, in shade and with steady water. |
| Tasmania | August to March | Sow Aug to Mar, succession every 2 to 3 weeks. Mild summers mean little bolting. Winter sowings need a cloche or cold frame. |
| Canberra & ACT | August to May | Sow Aug to May. Midwinter sowing fails in frozen soil; use a frame or wait for August. Succession sow every 2 to 3 weeks. |
| North Queensland | May to August | Dry season only. Sow May to Aug with afternoon shade. Bolts fast once build-up heat arrives from September. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to August | Dry season only. Sow May to Aug. Bolts quickly in wet season heat/humidity; needs shade cloth even in dry season in Darwin. |
Where to plant
Grow lettuce in rich, moist, free-draining soil improved with compost. A sunny spot is best in the cool months. In warm weather give it light shade in the hottest part of the day, as heat makes the leaves bitter and triggers bolting, when the plant runs up a flower stalk. Lettuce seed can also fail to germinate in very hot soil.
Lettuce is shallow rooted and needs steady moisture, so mulch it and do not let it dry out.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from January to October, with March to August the best. In summer, choose heat-tolerant loose-leaf types and give afternoon shade.
- Sydney: sow from January to October in mild coastal areas, with April to September the most reliable. Avoid peak summer heat.
- Melbourne: sow from March to September, in autumn, winter and spring batches.
- Adelaide and Perth: sow from April to October for autumn, winter and spring harvests, and avoid the summer heat. In Perth, hold off in March, when late heat spikes make it bolt.
- Canberra: sow from August to May. Midwinter sowings fail in frozen soil.
- Hobart: sow from August to March. Mild summers mean little bolting; winter sowings need a cloche or cold frame.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow in the dry season only, May to August, with afternoon shade or shade cloth.
Choosing a variety
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Loose-leaf (for example Green Mignonette, oak leaf, Red Coral) | No heart; pick leaves as needed for weeks. Green Mignonette is heat tolerant and slow to bolt, a good choice for warm areas |
| Butterhead (for example Buttercrunch) | Soft, buttery leaves around a loose heart. Cut whole once the heart firms |
| Cos or romaine (for example Paris Island) | Upright, crisp leaves; pick the lower leaves over many weeks or cut whole. Handles the shoulder seasons well |
| Crisphead or iceberg (for example Great Lakes) | A firm, crisp heart; the slowest to mature and the least forgiving of heat. Cut whole |
Lettuce seed does not store well, so buy fresh seed each year for reliable germination.
How to plant
- Sow seed thinly in punnets or direct, and barely cover it, about 0.5 cm deep.
- Keep the surface moist until seedlings appear, usually in about a week.
- Transplant punnet seedlings, or thin direct-sown ones, to about 20 to 30 cm apart. Eat the thinnings.
- Water in well and mulch.
- Sow a small batch every two to three weeks for a steady supply, rather than a lot at once.
Watering and feeding
Water regularly so the soil stays evenly moist. Lettuce that dries out turns bitter and bolts. Water the soil, ideally in the morning, rather than wetting the leaves late in the day, which encourages mildew.
Feed with a liquid fertiliser high in nitrogen every week or two for fast, tender growth. Use only well-aged poultry manure; fresh manure can burn plants.
Harvesting
Hearting lettuces such as iceberg and butterhead are best picked whole once they have formed a firm head; cut them before they start to bolt. Loose-leaf and cos lettuces can be picked continually: take the lower, outer leaves as they are ready and leave the centre to keep growing for weeks.
Pick in the cool of the morning and refrigerate straight away in a bag or container. Once lettuce starts to flower the leaves are usually too bitter to eat; let the seed fall for a self-sown salad patch, or collect it to sow later.
Growing in pots
Lettuce is ideal for pots, troughs and window boxes at least 15 to 20 cm deep. Use quality potting mix, keep it moist, feed every week or two with a liquid fertiliser, and move pots into shade on hot days. Loose-leaf types give the longest picking from a small space.
Companion planting
Lettuce is small and quick, so it fits between slower crops and in any gap in the garden.
Good companions
- Carrot Carrots grow slowly below while quick lettuce grows above, and the lettuce is picked before the carrots need the room.
- Radish Another fast crop sown alongside lettuce for an early harvest.
- Chives A low herb for the edge of the salad bed whose flowers bring in beneficial insects.
- Onion Slim, upright onions take little space between lettuces.
- Strawberry A low edging plant that shares the same rich, moist soil.
- Marigold Brings beneficial insects into the bed.
Pests and diseases
Slugs and snails are the main lettuce pests. Mildew and rots follow wet, crowded conditions.
Pests to watch for
- Slugs Ragged holes in the leaves and slime trails, especially on young plants after rain.
- Aphids Clusters of small green or grey insects in the heart and under the leaves. Hose them off.
Diseases to watch for
- Downy mildew Pale yellow, angular patches on the upper side of older leaves with grey, fuzzy growth beneath, in cool, damp weather. Space plants and water in the morning.
- Sclerotinia rot Plants wilt and collapse with a soft, wet rot at the base and white, cottony mould with hard black bodies, in cool, wet weather. Remove and bin affected plants and rotate the bed.
Common questions
Why is my lettuce going to seed?
Heat and dry soil make lettuce bolt, sending up a flower stalk, and the leaves turn bitter. Sow in the cooler months, keep the soil evenly moist, give shade on hot days, and sow small batches every few weeks so young plants are always coming on.
Can I grow lettuce in summer?
It is harder, as heat makes leaves bitter and moisture stress makes plants bolt. If you try, use open-heart, loose-leaf varieties such as Green Mignonette, cover them with 30 to 40 percent shade cloth and keep them well watered.
How do I harvest lettuce so it keeps growing?
Grow loose-leaf or cos types and pick the lower, outer leaves as they are ready, leaving the centre to keep growing. Hearting types such as iceberg are cut whole once the head is firm.
Why is my lettuce bitter?
Heat, dry soil and plants that are starting to flower all make lettuce bitter. Grow it in cool weather, water evenly and pick it young.
Why won't my lettuce seeds germinate?
Lettuce seed is small and should be covered only very shallowly, and it can fail to germinate in hot soil. Use fresh seed each year, as it does not store well, and sow in cooler weather or in shade.
What can I do when my lettuce goes to seed?
The leaves are usually too bitter by then. Let the seed drop for a self-sown salad patch, or collect it to sow later, then replace the plant.
How far apart should I plant lettuce?
About 20 to 30 cm, depending on the type. Loose-leaf lettuces for picking can go closer; large hearting types need the full spacing.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: FAQs, lettuce in summer; Gardening Australia: FAQs, harvesting lettuce and poultry manure; Gardening Australia: FAQs, lettuce going to seed; RHS: Lettuce, grow your own.