Growing your own butterhead lettuce is surprisingly easy! You can grab a packet of seeds from your local garden center or, if you’re feeling adventurous, use seeds saved from last year’s crop. Whether you have a sprawling backyard veggie patch or just a sunny balcony or patio, you can totally grow fresh, crunchy lettuce right at home.
How to Grow Lettuce from Your Own Seeds
If you want to harvest your own seeds, you’ll need to let a few of your lettuce plants “bolt” and go to flower. Once autumn rolls around, you can collect the seeds and store them in a cool, dark, and dry spot. Come February, you’re ready to start your head start by seed-starting indoors on a windowsill.
Start by filling some seed trays about three-quarters full with a good quality seed-starting mix. Give the soil a light misting of water before you get started. Then, sprinkle a pinch of seeds over the surface. Don’t be shy—sow them a bit generously since not every single seed will sprout. You can always thin them out (prick them out) later once they get going.
Sowing Your Lettuce Seeds
Cover the seeds with a very thin layer of soil—about a quarter-inch (0.5 cm) is plenty. Give them another gentle watering, but be careful not to wash the seeds away or turn the tray into a swamp. Place your trays in a bright, warm spot. Just keep an eye on the temperature; lettuce actually prefers it a bit cool, so aim for just under 70°F (20°C).
To keep the moisture locked in, you can cover your trays with a sheet of glass or some plastic wrap. This creates a nice little greenhouse effect for even germination. Just make sure to pop the cover off as soon as those little sprouts start reaching for the top so they have room to breathe. If you have one of those mini-greenhouses for windowsills, those work like a charm too!
Transplanting Your Lettuce
Once the threat of frost has passed, it’s time to move your baby lettuce plants outdoors. In many areas, it’s best to wait until after the mid-May “Ice Saints” to be safe. Before planting, loosen up the soil a bit—lettuce isn’t a fan of heavy, compacted ground.
Space your plants about 10 inches (25 cm) apart to give them room to head up. Give them a good soak right after planting, and keep the soil consistently moist over the next few weeks so those tender young plants don’t dry out. Happy gardening!
