Grow Lettuce from Seed
When you grow your own, you can go way beyond the varieties available at the grocery store
![](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2009/11/02100031/seedlings-lettuce-beds.jpg)
There are countless lettuces to choose from. And here’s good news: the “exotic” varieties are a lot easier to grow and much more nutritious and colorful than that old standby, iceberg.
I like to start my lettuce indoors, even though it’s not necessary. It gives me a head start on the season, it allows me to arrange them somewhat artfully in their beds, and maybe best of all, I can share them with friends and co-workers.
Sowing the seeds is the essence of simplicity. I Fill a container with potting soil, sprinkle some seeds on top, add a little more potting soil, water, and enclose it in a plastic bag to form a mini-greenhouse. In southwestern Connecticut, where I live, I plant the seeds by mid-March, and usually, they sprout in 7 to 10 days. When sprouts appear, I remove the plastic and put the containers under fluorescent lights.
![Warm, and safe from the dog](/app/uploads/assets/uploads/posts/3911/seedlings-plastic-greenhouses.jpg)
![Sprouted seedlings](/app/uploads/assets/uploads/posts/3911/seedlings-containers.jpg)
When the seedlings have a set or two of true leaves, I transplant them into individual cups, which I’ve filled with garden soil. A week or two after that, weather permitting, I set them outside where they are sheltered from the wind so they can acclimate to real-world conditions.
Below you’ll see some of my favorite varieties. You can check out these, and many more, at Fedco Seeds and Seed Savers Exchange.
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Cracoviensis, a French heirloom, has been a reliable producer in my garden. | Forellenschluss, speckled romaine, is a colorful and popular Austrian heirloom. |
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For the deep red color, it’s hard to beat Merlot. | Bright green and yummy, Strela anchors the salade palette. |
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Buttercrunch lettuce is slow to bolt. | Oreilles du diable (devil’s ears) adds muted tones to the salad bowl. |
So get out those seed catalogs and make your selections.
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