Fall has previously been thought to be the best time to plant lettuce; however, because many lettuce cultivars are being developed to be more heat tolerant, lettuce can be planted in early spring.
Of the four main categories of lettuce cultivars: crisphead, looseleaf, romaine and butterhead; looseleaf lettuces are a good choice for Alabama gardens because they have a maturity date of 40 to 50 days and are heat tolerant.
Lettuce should be planted in a well-drained soil that is capable of holding moisture and has a pH of 6.5 to 6.8. Organic matter may need to be added to the soil; however, if mulched too heavily, snails may begin to harbor and feed on the lettuce, so mulch sparingly.
Most lettuces are established by direct seed or transplants so if there is a danger of late frost after planting, remember to cover your crop.
For more information, call your county Extension office .
Lettuce is a great crop to mix among ornamentals to add colors and textures to a garden. Consider planting lettuce in small, open spaces in your garden where other large flowers or crops might do more harm than good. Following are some guidelines for harvesting lettuce.