A person spraying lettuce in a garden.
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For Thriving Lettuce Plants, Avoid These Gardening Mistakes
By EZEKIEL MAINA
A person planting lettuce.
Poor Timing
Planting lettuce in the summer, a season unsuitable for this cool-season vegetable, can lead to premature growth, bitter leaves, and increased vulnerability to pests.
A person testing soil in lettuce garden.
Wrong Soil
Lettuce favors well-draining soil with organic matter, like compost, and planting it in poorly-drained soil can lead to lackluster growth and a scant harvest.
A person pouring lettuce seeds out of a container.
Wrong Depth
Planting lettuce seeds deeper than ¼ to ½ an inch below the soil can impede germination, as they require sunlight to push through the soil within a depth of 1 centimeter.
Purple and green lettuce beds.
Bad Spacing
Plant lettuce seeds 8-12 inches apart to prevent restricted air circulation and avoid competition for resources, as this can hinder their growth and invite diseases.
A hand filled with soil.
Water Amount
Overwatering your lettuce can disrupt the soil and disorient its tender roots, leading to suffocation and root rot, while underwatering may induce plant stress.
A person watering lettuce using a watering can.
Generally, ensure your lettuce gets at least 2 inches of water weekly, or ideally, water when the upper inch of soil feels dry for optimal plant growth.