How to grow lettuce in a raised bed

Lettuce is one of the quickest, most rewarding crops for a raised bed — you can pick leaves within weeks, and at waist height there's no bending to snip a salad.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun in cool weather, part shade in summer
• Spacing: 20–25 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 23 cm depth suits it — lettuce is shallow-rooted
• Time to harvest: 6–10 weeks

When to plant: Lettuce grows nearly year-round in warm parts of Australia; in summer, sow in the cool of part-shade to stop it bolting. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing them in a raised bed: Sow thinly and keep the mix moist for good germination. Pick a loose-leaf variety and harvest the outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again supply over many weeks.

Watering and feeding: Consistent moisture is everything — stressed lettuce turns bitter and bolts. A drip watering system keeps it steady. Feed lightly for fast, tender growth.

Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids, slugs and snails, caterpillars and earwigs. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

Common diseases: the main ones are downy mildew, mosaic virus and damping-off. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

Companion plants: Lettuce grows happily between slower crops like carrots and beetroot, and appreciates the light shade of taller plants in summer. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: Harvest outer leaves as you need them, or cut the whole head at the base. Use it fresh — lettuce won't keep long.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Yercaud-elango, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.