Growing Great Lettuce and Greens: Checklist

Sun: 4 hours for lettuce, 6 for kale, chard arugula.  In summer heat, afternoon shade is welcome.

Timing: cool-season crops. Sow as soon as soil can be worked in spring, and again in late summer for fall.  

Soil: rich, moisture-holding, pH 6.5 to 7.0.  Does not like acidic soil.  Work in compost in the fall for spring planting

Spacing: 8 to 12 inches for head lettuce; leaf lettuce and greens can be sown thickly and thinned as you eat.  

Water: shallow roots. Water lightly and often; never let them wilt.

Feed: steady nitrogen keeps leaves growing fast and tender.

Heat: hot weather makes lettuce bolt and turn bitter. Lettuce seed also germinates poorly in hot soil, so midsummer sowing needs shade and cool water.

Succession: sow a short row every 2 weeks for a steady supply.

Harvest: in the morning when leaves are crisp. Pick outer leaves, or cut the whole head.

Rotate: move them around each year; lettuce is forgiving, but rotation still cuts disease.