How to Grow Iceberg Lettuce Plants
About Growing Iceberg Lettuce
No doubt about it. Iceberg lettuce is the king. Iceberg is a head lettuce. And, this lettuce is by far the most popular in the kitchen, and in stores. Iceberg lettuce has a tightly formed head of crisp, sweetly blanched leaves. Leaves on the outside are green, giving way to blanched pale yellow to whitish center leaves The sweetest leaves are in the center. Growing to about a foot in diameter, iceberg lettuce is a staple in the kitchen for salads, on sandwiches, shredded in snacks, as a garnish, and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. For a great crop, take a few moments to read this guide on “How to Grow Iceberg Lettuce”.
Iceberg lettuce is a cool-weather crop that requires a long growing season. In many areas, it begins to mature just as warm weather hits. The result can be splitting bolting or rotting of heads. So, we recommend an early, indoor start in the spring.
Did You Know? 73% of the lettuce consumed in the United States is Iceberg lettuce.
Iceberg Lettuce Plant Specifications
Days to Harvest: 80 to 90 days. depending upon growing conditions.
Plant height: 6 to 12 inches tall.
Light Needs: Full sunlight to partial shade
Ideal Soil pH : 6.0 – 7.0 More on soil pH
Plant Hardiness Zones: 2 – 11
Plant Type: Annual
Deer Resistant? No.
Native To: Mediterranean region.
Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa var. capitata
Nutrition Data
Iceberg lettuces is by far the most common salad green.
One cup of shredded iceberg lettuce contains approximately:
- 10 calories
- 2 g carbs
- 0 cholesterol
- 0.1 g fat
- 0.9 g fiber
- 0.6 g protein
- 8 mg sodium
Light Requirement
Iceberg lettuce plants grow best when planted in a location where they receive at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight. They benefit from a little partial shade from the hot midday sun.
This is a cool-weather plant. In warm areas of the county, grow them in partial shade.
Planting Iceberg Lettuce
Iceberg lettuce seeds can be sowed directly into the garden or started indoors. We recommend an indoor start, to allow time for the lettuce to mature, before hot weather sets in. First, sow a few lettuce seeds in each cell of a seed tray. Next, cover the seeds very lightly with fine starter soil. Then, keep the soil in the seed tray moist during the germination period.
In about 5-10 days, the seedlings will sprout. Then, thin seedlings to one plant per cell. Or, use small scissors, to thin plants. Simply snip seedlings off at ground level.
Tip: When beginning transplants, stagger the start of your seedlings to spread out the crop. For example, if you are going to grow 24 Iceberg lettuce plants, sow six in the seed tray today, sow six more a week later, etc.
Transplant lettuce seedlings into the garden after all danger of frost has passed. Ideally, transplant them on a cool or cloudy day. Water well after transplanting.
Final Spacing: Space plants 12″ apart in rows 18″ apart.
How to Grow Iceberg Lettuce Plants
Planting and Soil Needs:
Grow the plants in full sun. The soil should be rich, fertile, and well-draining.
As a cool weather crop, the plants grow best when planted as a spring or Fall crop.
Fertilizer Needs:
Fuel the growth of the plant with plenty of fertilizer. Apply a nitrogen rich fertilizer every two to three weeks. The plants also respond well to liquid fertilizer.
Water Needs:
Another trick to successfully growing lettuce is to keep it growing fast, with lots of water. Keep the soil moist, but not wet, during the entire growing cycle.
Insects and Pests:
Bunnies like lettuce. Got bunnies!? Then, a rabbit fence is in your future.
Insects can become a real problem, too. A wide variety of insects like lettuce. Iceberg lettuce is delicate and can absorb insecticides. If an infestation occurs, we recommend insecticidal soaps and organic repellents. If you choose chemical sprays, read the label carefully to make sure it is safe for lettuce. Also, heed the amount of time you have to wait to harvest the crop after spraying…..it’s all on the label of the spray you purchase.
Slugs are a real problem for all types of lettuces. There are a variety of control methods. More on Slugs and snails.
Other Steps:
Keep the area around the plants well-weeded. Weeds will compete with the lettuce plant for water and nutrients.
Add a layer of mulch around the plants to help retain soil moisture.
Transplanting Tip: When transplanting any type of lettuce in hot weather, place some form of sunshade over the plant for a couple of days. Any makeshift shade will do.
Lettuce plants will wilt and rot in hot, humid weather. It’s important to time the crop to mature before the onset of hot dry weather. In these conditions, the plant is bolt…go to seed. It can also split or rot.
For a fall crop, an indoor start is best. Lettuce seeds do not germinate well in the hot soil of mid-summer.
Also, Iceberg lettuce plants will bolt, or go to seed stage, in higher heat. Rotting can also occur in wet soils.
Also see:
Soil Temperatures – Ideal germination temperature by vegetable.
Harvesting Iceberg Lettuce
Days to Harvest: Plants need 80 – 90 days to reach maturity.
If you have a big crop, begin to harvest iceberg lettuce after the head begins to form. The outer leaves are edible. However, the outer leaves are not sweet like the blanched inner leaves. Harvest when the heads are big and tightly packed. Once they reach this stage, bolting is but a few days away.
Plant Hardiness
Iceberg lettuce thrives in cooler weather. But, it is also susceptible to frost. It does not like mid-summer heat or dry conditions. Set your first crop outdoors after the last spring frost. Time your Fall crop to mature before the first fall frost date for your area.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Please support our site. Shop for:
How To Grow
Other Gardening
Our Community
Contact Us
- rmmatthews100@hotmail.com
- 585-721-6528
- Rochester, NY
©1999-2026 GardenersNet.Com, All Rights Reserved