How To grow Winter Lettuce
Key Points:
There are two ways of growing winter lettuce:
You can grow lettuce specifically sold as 'winter lettuce'.
The second method is a late sowing of lettuce, which is gradually protected as the cold weather materialises.
I have used both methods, which work well. The image (no AI) is of my veg plot during late autumn and winter, showing both ways of growing late lettuce.
How to Germinate and Grow Winter Lettuce
Method 1: Buy and Grow Winter Lettuce. There are varieties of lettuce sold as "winter" lettuce, which are cold-hardy and grow in lower light conditions.
In Autumn, from September until around November, depending on the conditions, you should sow or plant out winter lettuce, including small plants, directly into the veg plot. Alternatively, raise in seed trays and transplant in late autumn. By germinating seeds/planting out in Autumn, the small plants should be sufficiently mature to withstand the cold weather. When planting winter lettuce, whether from seed or as small plug plants, covering with a cloche will help raise the temperature as autumn sets in and produce stronger plants.
Plants should be around 20-25cms apart, depending on the variety (size) of lettuce.
Plant Winter lettuce in a sheltered sunny area with good drainage, so the plants are not waterlogged. Use cloches to protect the small plants if cold weather is predicted. You can grow winter lettuces throughout the winter, and you can start sowing again in February under cover.
If you have a poly tunnel, or greenhouse and are in a sheltered spot, you can sow winter lettuces continuously, taking advantage of mild spells over the winter. The mild spells enable the seed to germinate.
Growing Winter Lettuces
As the more serious cold kicks in, your winter lettuces will need some protection. Looking at the images above, there are two types of lettuce. The lettuce in the foreground is winter lettuce.
Winter lettuces are tough, but not indestructible. Varieties sold as winter lettuce and illustrated here are Winter Purslane, Corn Salad, Land Cress and Winter Lettuces' Density' and ' Winter King'
Once established, take the cloche off in milder days to allow air circulation, to prevent the soil from getting mould, and to allow modest watering.
The demarcation line between winter and summer lettuce is a bit blurred. Your garden's aspect and the protection you provide the crop may well determine how long you can grow summer lettuce.
Given that lettuce is expensive in the shops, especially over winter, this makes it an easy to grow economical crop. .
Late Sowing of Lettuce
Method 2: Sow late lettuce. It is perfectly possible to grow lettuce throughout the autumn and winter in the UK, with little effort.
Late summer- or autumn-sown lettuce, cut and crop again type, and rocket will withstand light frosts that may occur during October and November. Lettuce is hardier than it appears, and late-sown summer lettuces will survive cold and light frosts without protection, which means they will crop throughout autumn. Generally, lettuce is hardy down to around -3-5, depending on variety. This is not strictly "winter lettuce" but lettuce sown late in the growing season.
I took the image in October. I seeded in late summer, and it germinated before temperatures dropped. I recommend picking the lettuce outside the cloche first, leaving those under the cloche for consumption in late autumn and early winter. You can plant lettuce in a container near the kitchen door to avoid a trip outside in the cold and wet. As temperatures drop, it is necessary to pick off all the lettuce outside and grow only lettuce under the cloche.
Suggested varieties of Winter Lettuce to Grow
Illustrated above are Winter Purslane, Lambs lettuce, Corn Salad, Land Cress and Winter lettuces ' Density' and ' Winter King' which are traditional varieties of winter lettuce. Also suitable for growing over winter are Oriental greens such as Mizuna, Mustard Greens, together with Endive, and Salad Burnet.
You can also grow this mix Native British Leaves 'Urban Forager' throughout early autumn and then sow on a windowsill for baby leaves as a cut and come again. Available from Suttons (affiliate link)