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 should I plant lettuce?

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 garden calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): February to September
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): March to May and September to November
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): September to April
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): March to August
• Arid inland: February to October

How do I grow lettuce 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.

How often should I water and feed lettuce?

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

What pests attack lettuce?

Keep an eye out for aphids, slugs and snails, caterpillars and earwigs. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide. Wilting plants that lift out easily? Check for curl grubs.

What diseases affect lettuce?

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

What grows well with lettuce?

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.

When do I harvest lettuce?

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 garden 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: HARTLEPOOLMARINA2014, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.