As of: February 18, 2024, 7:21 p.m
By: Ines Alms
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Lettuce is picked early, endive comes into the bed later: salad sowing is in full swing from February to May.
An overview of times and varieties.
Growing lettuce is easy.
Lettuces grow pretty quickly and if snails don't get in your way, you can harvest fresh leaves early in the year in outdoor beds, in the greenhouse, in raised beds and even on the balcony.
There are countless varieties to choose from, from lettuce to rocket.
It is often a difficult decision which one to take.
One possibility is to simply focus on the sowing time.
For some varieties, outdoor cultivation is unfavorable before the ice saints and they should be preferred on the windowsill.
Sowing calendar for salads: an overview
When you can sow lettuces outdoors depends on the variety and the climate in your region.
© Pond5 Images/Imago
Putting it on the windowsill takes a bit of work and requires enough space.
On the other hand, the young plants can get off to a quicker start when planted out in the bed and are not quite as at risk from slugs as salads sown directly into the bed.
The advantage of bed cultivation: Since the lettuces grow more slowly, they do not tend to sprout.
When you sow or plant lettuces directly outdoors also depends on the region in which you live.
If there is a threat of even stronger night frosts in cooler areas, the timing should be postponed a little.
If you want to harvest regularly, sow new seeds every two weeks.
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The following table gives an overview of which types of lettuce you can sow and when - whether to grow on the windowsill (alternatively in the greenhouse or cold frame) or outside in the open field.
If the lettuces are grown outdoors under foil, earlier sowing is also possible.
February |
March |
April |
May |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Batavia salad |
window sill |
Window sill/outdoor area |
Free range |
Free range |
Oak leaf lettuce |
window sill |
Free range |
Free range |
|
Ice (mountain) lettuce |
window sill |
window sill |
Free range |
Free range |
Lamb's lettuce |
Free range |
Free range |
Free range |
Free range |
Lettuce |
window sill |
window sill |
Free range |
Free range |
Pick lettuce |
window sill |
window sill |
Free range |
Free range |
Romaine lettuce |
window sill |
window sill |
Free range |
Free range |
arugula |
window sill |
Free range |
Free range |
Free range |
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Late varieties and young plants
Some varieties like endive are a little later.
This is only brought forward from May or, like radicchio, sown directly outdoors from June.
Lamb's lettuce, on the other hand, is suitable for sowing all year round or only in certain months, depending on the variety.
If you prefer lettuces on the windowsill, you can plant them as young plants in the bed about four weeks after sowing, usually from April depending on the weather, and lettuce even from March.
You should be more careful with cold-sensitive varieties such as Batavia, oak leaf or iceberg lettuce.
If it is still frosty, foil protection makes sense.