Lettuce
Lactuca sativa
Also known as: salad greens
Cool-season salad green available in leaf, romaine, butterhead, and crisphead types. Bolts in heat.
Growing Requirements
Planting Schedule
Start Indoors
4–6 weeks before last frost
Direct Sow (Spring)
2–4 weeks before last frost
Transplant Outdoors
-2–9 weeks after last frost
Fall Sow
8–10 weeks before first frost
Germination
2–8 days
Days to Harvest
30–60 days
Zone Suitability
USDA Hardiness Zones
Zones 2–11
Prefers cool weather. Bolts quickly when temps exceed 80°F.
Companion Plants
Good Companions (11)
Carrot
Daucus carota subsp. sativus
Lettuce shades soil while carrots grow below without competing
Confidence: Medium
Radish
Raphanus sativus
Radish breaks soil crust and harvests before lettuce matures
Confidence: Medium
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Allium scent repels aphids from lettuce
Confidence: Medium
Onion
Allium cepa
Onion scent deters aphids and slugs near lettuce
Confidence: Medium
Garlic
Allium sativum
Repels aphids with strong allium scent
Confidence: Medium
Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa
Compatible ground-level companions that share space efficiently
Confidence: Medium
Dill
Anethum graveolens
Attracts beneficial insects that protect lettuce
Confidence: Medium
Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
Low ground cover retains soil moisture for cucumbers
Confidence: Medium
Spinach
Spinacia oleracea
Compatible cool-season companions with similar water needs
Confidence: Medium
Beet
Beta vulgaris
Shallow lettuce roots do not compete with deep beet roots
Confidence: Medium
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Tall sunflowers provide shade for heat-sensitive lettuce
Confidence: Medium