How to Grow Lettuce Against a Wall in the Winter

Lettuce is a bountiful winter crop that thrives in cool temperatures, tolerates light frost and can produce a continuous harvest through the season. Grow lettuce in winter in USDA zones 8 through 10 or in spring and fall in zones 6 to 8A. When raising lettuce in the winter, you'll want to provide as much light as possible. A partly shaded area works well for keeping the crop cool, but too much shade can prevent lettuce from productive growth. The benefit of growing lettuce along a wall is the crop will be prolonged and is less likely to bolt from rising temperatures as spring nears, and the shelter will protect the vegetable from high heat.

Compost
Spade

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a planting spot next to the wall where the lettuce will receive the most possible sunlight, although lettuce can grow with less than six hours of daily sunlight. A south-facing wall is ideal.
- 2
  Prepare soil by incorporating compost or other organic matter with a spade or shovel. Soil should be loose and well-draining but does not need to be worked very deeply, as lettuce roots are generally quite shallow. A soil pH of 6.5 to 7.0 helps lettuce thrive.
- 3
  Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep. Scatter or plant in rows, then thin to 8 inches apart for loose-leaf lettuce or 8 to 12 inches apart for iceberg and romaine varieties. Do not plant too close to the wall; allow 4 or more inches for leaves to develop. Do not plant too deeply as seeds need light exposure to germinate. Germination occurs best when soil is cool, between 40 and 60 F, and should occur in one to two weeks. Above 68 F, germination results are diminished; temperatures of 75 F or greater cause seeds to go dormant.
- 4
  Provide moderate water to keep soil moist. If the planting location is heavily shaded, use care to avoid over-watering, which can lead to disease. Avoid soil with poor drainage.

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