Mix Gourmet Lettuce Seeds

Sow Gourmet Lettuce Mix seeds ¼ inch deep — no deeper, because lettuce needs light to trigger germination and burying the seeds further genuinely slows the process. Direct sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost, or start indoors in trays or plug modules for early transplanting. Germination comes in fast: 3–10 days at 55–70°F soil temperature. Rather than sowing everything at once, stagger plantings every two to three weeks for a continuous harvest through spring and into early summer. This mix also germinates reliably in containers, indoor setups, and hydroponic systems — one of the more versatile Gourmet Blend Lettuce seeds on the market in that regard.

Full sun is the default, but in warmer climates afternoon shade is genuinely useful — it slows bolting and keeps leaves productive weeks longer than they would be in unbroken summer sun. Soil should be nitrogen-rich, composted, and well-drained; lettuce is a leaf crop and draws heavily on nitrogen, so thin soil produces pale, underdeveloped leaves with more bitterness than flavor. Space plants 9–12 inches apart in rows 12–15 inches apart. Water consistently — lettuce has shallow roots that dry out faster than most vegetables, and irregular moisture is one of the main reasons leaves turn bitter before bolting even starts. Keep the soil well watered but not waterlogged.

Cut-and-come-again harvesting is the right approach here: take outer leaves individually rather than cutting the whole plant, and it will keep producing new growth for several more weeks. Never remove more than a third of the plant at one time. Harvest before the flower stalk appears — once bolting begins, bitterness sets in quickly and the productive window closes within days. Young leaves at 3–4 inches give the best flavor for salads and baby leaf use. In warm spells, watch for tip burn on leaf edges; it signals heat or moisture stress and usually means the plant needs shade cloth, more frequent watering, or both.