Gardening - Q&A: Growing Lettuce in Summer

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Q&A: Growing Lettuce in Summer

National Gardening Association

Question: My family loves the springtime lettuces/greens I grow in our garden, but with the onset of hot weather by early June it just doesn't last long enough. Is it possible to grow lettuce in a "greenhouse" that could be cooled (air conditioned?) in some way, or perhaps grow it in a container and bring it indoors on the hotter days? I've tried using sunshades and misting during the heat of the day, but that only works for so long before the lettuce turns bitter. I'm determined to find a way to enjoy these wonderful, tender greens throughout the summer!

Answer: Although it would theoretically be possible to grow greens in an air-conditioned greenhouse or indoors under lights in the summer time, you might want to experiment with growing some of the more heat tolerant greens instead. Swiss chard, Malabar or New Zealand spinach, and the old standby red oak leaf lettuce might be possibilities. You can also extend your lettuce harvest by making successive sowings 10 days to 2 weeks apart, so you always have a supply of young greens. Since hot weather can inhibit lettuce seed germination, during warm weather cover the seedbed with a board or a light mulch to shade the soil and keep it cool, removing the cover at the first sign of germination.

Content provided by the National Gardening Association