Can You Grow Butter Lettuce in Pots?

Pot Size and Preparation

• Although butter lettuce is considerably smaller than other lettuce varieties, it still needs ample room for the leaves to develop. You can plant individual plants in standard 8- to 10-inch pots or sow four to six plants in a one-gallon container. Lettuce roots are long, so make sure the pots or containers are at least 8 inches deep for healthy root development. Small pots need four drainage holes in the bottom, and gallon containers require six to eight holes. Place an inch of crushed terra cotta, vermiculite or gravel in the bottom of the pots to ensure good drainage.

Soil and Fertilization

• Butter lettuce grows well in standard potting soil or a comparable soilless mixture. Since plants grown in containers don’t have the advantage of drawing nutrients from the earth, add a water-soluble plant food to the water every week or two. Plant food with a 15-30-15 or 20-20-20 nutrient mixture works well.

Seeds vs. Seedlings

• To get mature lettuce faster, start with seedlings purchased from a nursery or garden specialty store. You can also start butter lettuce from seeds planted about 1/4 inch deep in the soil. If you choose the seed option, closely monitor the growth and weed out weaker sprouts to make room for heartier ones.

Watering Guidelines

• Plants in containers require more watering than those planted in the ground because the soil dries out more quickly. Keep the soil around the butter lettuce plants moist, but avoid overwatering, which encourages root rot. Carefully avoid getting water on the leaves of the lettuce plants as this frequently causes bacterial growth and disease.

Light and Temperature

• Although lettuce likes occasional periods of coolness, give it four to six hours a day of warm sunlight. If the plants are outdoors, move them into slightly shaded areas if the leaves start to yellow or droop. Indoor plants thrive in direct or filtered sunlight in draft-free environments.

Harvesting

• Lettuce grows quickly, and you should have your first head of butter lettuce four to six weeks after planting if you use seeds and in three to four weeks if you start with seedlings. To maintain a continuous supply of lettuce through spring, summer and fall, start new plants every two to three weeks.