How to Grow Iceberg Lettuce - The Complete Guide

Iceberg lettuce are a rewarding vegetable to grow at home and an excellent addition to any garden. Below we share the basics of growing iceberg lettuce in a home garden, as well as common mistakes and considerations.

When to Plant Iceberg Lettuce

Iceberg lettuce are a frost tolerant vegetable. This means the best time to plant them is mid to early spring, and mid to late summer for a fall harvest. If you’re expecting a late or early frost after planting, protect your iceberg lettuce with a blanket of straw or cover them with plastic buckets.

If you live in the U.S., check out the Farmer’s Almanac or the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zones for more help regarding frost and the best dates for planting in your area.

How to Plant Iceberg Lettuce

Plant your iceberg lettuce seeds directly in the soil of your garden or container at a depth of 0.5 inches (1 centimetre). Seeds can be planted outside or you can germinate them indoors and transplant them later. Typically, iceberg lettuce seeds take about 1 - 2 weeks to fully germinate.

If transplanting, the best time to move iceberg lettuce plants outside is when they reach 3 - 4 inches (7 - 10 centimetres) tall or have at least 3 - 4 true leaves.

When planting iceberg lettuce in the garden, it’s best to space them 1 - 2 feet (30 - 60 centimetres) away from the nearest plant.

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How to Grow Iceberg Lettuce in Pots

The key to caring for iceberg lettuce in containers is well draining soil and a pot big enough for their root system. Aim for a pot that is roughly 288 cubic inches (4,719 cubic centimetres) in size. Any old flower pots you have lying around should do the trick.

For more in depth information, check out our full guide on growing iceberg lettuce in containers.

How Long do Iceberg Lettuce Take to Grow

On average, it takes about 70 - 80 days for planted iceberg lettuce seeds to develop into a fully mature plant.

How Big do Iceberg Lettuce Get

Typically, iceberg lettuce plants reach about 8 - 12 inches (20 - 30 centimetres) in height. Though this can fluctuate depending on the variety.

How Much Sunlight do Iceberg Lettuce Need

Iceberg lettuce need 3 - 6 hours of direct sunlight every day in order to thrive. Be careful to place your plants in an area that receives adequate sunlight. Otherwise, they may not mature properly.

How Much Water do Iceberg Lettuce Need

Iceberg lettuce like well draining soil that is kept consistently moist, but not wet or soggy. The amount of water it takes to achieve this effect will differ depending on the type of soil available to you.

Be sure to water your iceberg lettuce on a consistent, steady schedule. This will ensure the plant yields a healthy, uniform crop.

If growing your iceberg lettuce in pots, they will need to be watered more frequently than iceberg lettuce planted directly in the garden.

You will know your iceberg lettuce are in need of more water when their leaves wilt, yellow, and/or the plant begins to droop. But be careful, this can also happen if the plant receives too much water. This is a difficult balance for most novice gardeners. But the more time you spend with your iceberg lettuce, the better you’ll be able to gauge how thirsty they are.

How to Harvest Iceberg Lettuce

Using a sharp knife or scissors, snip the head of iceberg lettuce at it’s base and remove from the plant.