Oak leaf lettuce: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
When and how do you sow oak leaf lettuce under cover?
Sow oak leaf lettuce under bright cover to raise plants while outdoor conditions are still too cold. Late winter and early spring are useful guides in a temperate climate. For an autumn or winter crop, check that the cultivar is suitable: oak leaf describes a lettuce shape, not a universal ability to withstand cold.
Use a clean seed tray or modules with drainage holes and fine seed compost moistened beforehand. Sow thinly and cover the seeds very lightly according to the packet, generally with a few millimetres of compost and no more than 1 cm. Firm gently and water with a fine spray so the seeds stay in place.
Keep the compost moist rather than saturated. Provide good light and ventilate the cover when sunshine warms it. A closed greenhouse or a tray behind glass can overheat; high temperatures may inhibit germination. A bright but cooler position is preferable to excessive artificial heat.
After seedlings emerge, give them room. Once they have a few true leaves and are easy to handle, move tray-grown seedlings into individual modules without burying their centres. Label the cultivar and date. Before outdoor planting, gradually accustom the young plants to fresh air, wind and changing temperatures.
When and how do you sow oak leaf lettuce directly outdoors?
When and how do you plant oak leaf lettuce?
How to care for this plant
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Thin seedlings
If your lettuces are crowded and you want whole heads, thin gradually to about 15–30 cm according to the variety. Keep closer spacing for promptly harvested baby leaves. In a module, select the seedling you want to keep.
When and how do you harvest oak leaf lettuce?
