Some lettuce varieties will grow new leaves after cutting. Put the tiny seedlings in a sunny spot and keep them watered. Iceberg is a variety of lettuce with crisp leaves that grow in a spherical head resembling cabbage. Growing lettuce is an easy and inexpensive way to put fresh gourmet salad greens on the table. Keep lettuce plants well watered during dry periods to promote rapid, uninterrupted growth. Picking iceberg lettuce at the right time ensures full head formation and optimum flavor. Regardless of the variety you choose, lettuce is a hardy crop that grows well in most regions. To grow iceberg lettuce, you will need to properly prepare the soil, occasionally fertilize the growing plant, and protect it from rabbits and other vermin. Choose an area with soil that drains well and gets plenty of sun. This American classic is an heirloom variety of lettuce. While it’s known for being low in nutrients, there’s nothing quite like the crunch of iceberg lettuce. If you’re planning to grow your own lettuce, you must first ensure that you live in a place with a cool climate. As a cool-season crop, lettuce grows well with the cool, moist weather available in spring and fall. How to Plant Lettuce. For years I struggled with how and when to grow lettuce. Sow a few lettuce seeds in each cell of a seed tray. If you’re going to grow lettuce in the summer, make sure you plant it in partial shade to help the soil remain cooler. It is considered one of the sweeter lettuce varieties like romaine and butterhead . If the temperature goes any higher, lettuce plants may grow prematurely. Plant iceberg lettuce if you have a lot of time to let your lettuce grow. Opt for loose-leaf lettuce if you live in a warmer climate. Iceberg is a variety of lettuce with crisp leaves that grow in a spherical head resembling cabbage. A Little History of Lettuce Growing lettuce in containers makes it easy to weed, control disease and harvest seeds. How to Grow Lettuce in a Pot - Picking a Lettuce Variety Choose Romaine lettuce if you have a smaller container. Lettuce is shallow-rooted, so avoid disturbing the soil around the plants when weeding. If planting indoors, start by planting the seeds in a shallow tray and covering with a bit of potting soil. There are many iceberg lettuce varieties to choose from, with the Lakeland, Miluna, and the Pablo lettuce varieties noted as easy growers. Click this article for tips on how to grow lettuce plants in the garden. Lettuce needs nitrogen-rich soil to grow, so spray a liquid fertilizer on the plant 3 weeks after you planted it, or when the first leaves grow on the plant. After about 1 week or when the leaves have reached about 3 inches above the cut stem, it should be ready for planting. So, I decided to try growing lettuce in containers. Thin leaf lettuce seedlings to 4 inches apart. Iceberg Lettuce Nutritional Facts. Leaf lettuce can be harvested continually throughout the growing season until the plant starts to bolt or otherwise expires, as long as you harvest only the outer leaves each time and leave enough inner leaves, and the inner growing center, for the plant to continually make new leaves and make food for itself. With a passive solar greenhouse -- read no electrical heating required -- you can grow head lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) through the winter even in frost-prone areas. An option for growing lettuce in the summer could mean arranging your garden to accommodate it — for instance, plant lettuce next to taller plants … Be sure to plant around six to eight weeks before the last spring frost to ensure optimal growing conditions. Plant the seeds in shallow seed boxes or "flats." Iceberg lettuce and other varieties of this vegetable are usually grown in areas where the temperature does not exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Growing lettuce in containers requires the right type of pot and planting medium. Thin to stand 8 inches apart when seedlings are 1-2 inches tall. Keep lettuce plants well watered during dry periods to promote rapid, uninterrupted growth. Plant iceberg lettuce if you have a lot of time to let your lettuce grow.