Butterhead lettuce needs plenty of elbow room to really thrive. That’s why getting your spacing right is so important! This doesn’t just apply to the distance between your lettuce plants, but also how close they are to other veggies, greenhouse walls, or garden fences.
How much space does your lettuce really need?
When you’re first starting your seeds, you don’t have to be quite so meticulous. Depending on the size of your seed trays, you can usually drop two or three seeds per cell. Later on, you’ll need to prick them out (thin them) to give them room. If you want to skip that extra step, you can sow them directly into the garden bed with the proper spacing from the get-go. Just keep the variety in mind—very early varieties usually do better if they’re started indoors first.
As a general rule of thumb, butterhead lettuce needs at least 10 inches (25 cm) of space in every direction. This applies to:
- Neighboring plants
- Greenhouse walls
- Stone walls
- Garden fences
For extra-large varieties, you’ll want to bump that up to about 12 inches (30 cm). Always take a quick peek at your seed packet, as it’ll give you the specific spacing for that variety. If you’re buying starts from a local nursery or garden center, stick to that 10-inch rule. And hey, if you aren’t great at “eyeballing” distances, don’t be shy about grabbing a ruler or a tape measure!
Why is spacing so important?
If you crowd your lettuce (or any plant, for that matter), they’ll end up fighting each other for resources. Without enough room to spread out, they’ll either try to push out their neighbors or just stay stunted and small.
Beyond just physical space, there’s the competition for nutrients. If you pack too many heads of lettuce into a tiny area, there simply won’t be enough “food” in the soil to go around. You’ll end up with a few scrawny plants that never really reach their full potential.
Good (and bad) neighbors for your lettuce
The great news is that butterhead lettuce is a pretty easy-going neighbor. It gets along with almost everyone in the garden! Here are some of the best plants to grow alongside your lettuce:
- Strawberries
- Corn
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Beans
- Carrots
- Chervil
- Dill
- Asparagus
- Peas
- Cucumbers
- Kohlrabi
- All types of cabbage
- Leeks
- Radishes
- Rhubarb
- Beets
- Onions
However, even the friendliest plants have a few enemies. You’ll want to keep your lettuce away from:
- Celery
- Parsley
