Lettuce.

Conditions at a glance

• Light 4–6 h sun; tolerates part shade
• Warmth Cool ≈ 10–20 °C; bolts in heat
• Humidity Moderate
• Water Steady moisture — shallow roots dry fast
• Pot size ~15 cm deep, wide · 1–2 L per plant
• First harvest ~3–4 weeks for baby leaves; ~6–8 for a head

Grow it in your space

1. Pick a bright spot that escapes harsh midday summer heat.
2. A wide, shallow container with drainage and fresh potting mix.
3. Sow thinly, then thin the seedlings so each has room.
4. Keep the mix evenly moist — dry swings make it bitter and prone to bolting.
5. Harvest outer leaves (cut-and-come-again), and sow a little every 2–3 weeks.

How to tell it's ready

• Outer leaves about hand-sized — for looseleaf types that's your cue — take the outer leaves and leave the centre growing. You'll get weeks of picking from one plant.
• A hearting type feels firm in the middle — butterhead, cos and iceberg form a heart; squeeze gently — firm means cut the whole head at the base.
• Bolting: the centre starts to stretch upward — a stem shooting up means the plant is going to flower and the leaves will turn bitter fast. Harvest everything now — don't wait for size.
• Pick in the cool of the morning — leaves are crisp and full of water then; midday-picked lettuce wilts almost immediately.

Watch-outs

• Bolting — shoots up and turns bitter — heat and long days; grow it cool or in light shade.
• Tip burn — brown, scorched leaf edges — irregular water or heat stress.
• Slugs — love tender seedlings — check pots, especially after rain.
• Damping off — seedlings collapse — don't overwater; give airflow.