Shade is the third part to keeping lettuce growing vigorously later into warm weather. Reducing sun exposure lowers the heat to the leaves, but also to the soil and roots – creating a combined benefit.
How do you shade lettuce in the summer?
Provide shade. Use shade cloth or plant on the shady side of taller vegetables. Don’t skimp on water. Keep lettuce growing fast to prevent wilting, premature bolting, and bitterness.
Can I grow lettuce in the shade?
Among vegetables, leafy greens are the most tolerant of shade, including kale, lettuce, spinach, arugula and chard. Related to both beets and spinach, Swiss chard tastes a little like both and is fairly easy to grow.
Does lettuce grow well in summer?
Savvy gardeners plant lettuce among other warm-season vegetables, such as tomatoes, so that by the time the lettuce is finished in early summer, the warm-season vegetables are beginning to take over the garden space. Lettuce grows best in a temperature range of about 45 to 75 degrees.
Does lettuce grow better in sun or shade?
full sun
Soil, Planting, and Care
Although lettuce grows fastest in full sun, it is one of the few vegetables that tolerates some shade. In fact, a spring crop often lasts longer if shaded from the afternoon sun as the season warms. You can grow lots of lettuce in a small space, even a container.
How hot is too hot for lettuce?
Lettuce is a cool-season vegetable, meaning it grows best in temperatures around 60 – 65°F. Once temperatures rise above 80°F, lettuce will normally start to “bolt” or stop leaf production and send up a stalk to flower and produce seed. The leaves become bitter at this stage.
Which lettuce is heat-tolerant?
Butterhead lettuce is usually known for being among the most heat-tolerant and bolt-resistant of all the lettuce types.
Which lettuce grows best in shade?
Made In the Shade
The latter type, called leaf lettuce, does better in shade than head lettuce. Leaf lettuce needs only about five hours of sun each day and may grow with even less, although its growth might be slower and plants could become less vigorous with minimal sun.
Can lettuce grow without direct sunlight?
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Lettuce—a staple for any salad or BLT lover—is a cool-season green that dislikes too much direct sun. Some gardeners even shelter lettuce with shade cloth to prevent it from burning out.
How many hours of sun do lettuce need?
approximately 6 to 8 hours
How much sun does lettuce need to grow? Most lettuce varieties enjoy full sunlight. For the best turnout, make sure you plant your lettuce in an area that receives approximately 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Some varieties can also be grown in partial shade, receiving 4 to 6 hours a day.
Does lettuce need a lot of water?
Lettuce has shallow roots, so plants need consistent watering. Check at least twice a week and water if the soil is dry down to 1 inch deep. Containers of lettuce need to be watered more frequently than garden beds, especially in the summer.
What are the best lettuces to grow in the summer?
Heat-tolerant lettuces:
- ‘Ice Queen (Reine des Glaces)’ (Summer Crisp)
- ‘Little Gem’ (Romaine)
- ‘Marvel of Four Season’ (Butterhead)
- ‘New Red Fire’ (Leaf Lettuce)
- ‘Parris Island’ Cos (Romaine)
- ‘Red Sails (Leaf Lettuce)
- ‘Rouge d’ Hiver’ (Romaine)
- Salad Bowl Blend (Leaf Lettuce)
What month is best to plant lettuce?
Lettuce is a cool weather crop and is best grown in spring and fall. The seeds germinate in temperatures as low as 40 F (4 C) but its ideal germination and growing temperature is between 60 and 65 F (16 to 18 C).
Can cucumbers grow in shade?
There are plenty of vegetables that grow in shade, dappled sunlight, or with as little as 3-6 hours of sunlight per day: Vegetables that fruit from a blossom, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and squash are the least tolerant of shady areas.
Where does lettuce grow best?
The ideal lettuce growing location for spring and fall is in a spot that receives full sun. If you plan on growing lettuce during the summer or in warm planting zones, partial shade can provide protection from the heat.
What temp kills lettuce?
If the air is moist enough, freezing in this range might also involve frost, but it’s not a given. Lettuce may cope with light freezing and even one or two hard freezes, but once the thermometer reads 25°F or below, the plants are in danger.
What is the problem of lettuce?
Most salad greens turn bitter when daytime temperatures rise above 70°F (21°C). That’s how much temperature matters. Remember that lettuce is a cool-season vegetable and you’ll never try to grow it in the heat of summer again. Another reason that lettuce becomes bitter, is from too little water/moisture.
Which leafy greens grow in summer?
Perpetual Spinach
(Chard produces the same leafy tops as beets, but does not form a swollen root.) However, it tastes more like spinach than it does chard. In mild climates, perpetual spinach grows all summer long, over fall and winter, and even through the following spring.
Can I grow lettuce in July?
Summer varieties of lettuce will do great in July and August and seeds can be planted directly in the garden. Just be sure to keep the seeds moist till they germinate and get established. Most summer lettuce varieties resist bolting and tip burn.
Can lettuce be planted in partial shade?
Arugula, lettuce, chard, kale and most other leafy greens are top candidates for partial shade at any time of day, and a longer list often thrives in sites that get full morning sun followed by afternoon shade.
Can Romaine grow in full shade?
Lettuce is a cold-hardy crop that loves temperatures on the cooler side and can tolerate shade. In early spring, lettuce grows faster if planted in full sun, but if the weather gets too hot, it will go to seed.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.