Leaf Lettuce Growth Chart — Baby Greens to Full Harvest
Plant count & yield calculator
Pre-filled for this crop — adjust bed size or pick a different vegetable.
Enter bed size to count plants.
Your result
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Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
Seed starting dates
Pre-filled last frost — change the date to rebuild the full crop schedule. For Lettuce (leaf) with this frost date : start indoors ~Mar 18, transplant ~Apr 1, direct sow ~Mar 18 .
Pick a last frost date for the schedule.
Your result
—
Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
About lettuce (leaf)
Leaf lettuce delivers the fastest salad harvest in the garden — baby greens around 30 days, full-size plants near 45 days, then cut-and-come-again picking for weeks.
Growth chart
| Stage | Timing | What you'll see |
|---|---|---|
| Baby leaf harvest | ~30 days from sowing | Snip tender outer leaves at 3–4 inches for salad mixes. |
| Full-size plants | ~45 days from sowing | Peak cut-and-come-again plants; outer leaves reach 4–5 inches. |
| Cut-and-come-again | Ongoing after first cut | Keep harvesting outer leaves so the crown keeps producing. |
| Succession sow | Every 2 weeks | New sowings replace bolting beds for continuous salad. |
Spacing & yield
Lettuce (leaf) wants 6×9 inches and about 0.5 lb per plant at ~45 days to maturity.
Growing tips
- Scatter-sow or thin to 6 inches for full-size plants, or grow at 3 inches for baby greens.
- Use successive sowings every 2 weeks for non-stop salad from spring through fall.
- Harvest outer leaves first to keep the crown producing new growth.
- Provide afternoon shade in warm climates to delay bolting by a week or more.
Common mistakes
- Letting soil dry completely between waterings, causing bitterness.
- Waiting to harvest until the center stalk elongates — that signals bolting.
Harvest & storage
Begin snipping outer leaves when they reach 4-5 inches long, starting as early as 45 days from sowing.
Rinse, spin dry, and store in a sealed container with a paper towel for up to one week.
Companion planting
Good neighbors for lettuce (leaf): radish, carrots, strawberries, chives, onions. Avoid planting beside: celery.
Planting calendar
Start indoors about 4 weeks before last frost, then transplant 2 weeks before frost. Direct sow is also an option around 4 weeks before frost. Use the seed-starting calculator above with your real county frost date — the April 15 default is only a worked example (zone 6 style).
Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a leaf lettuce growth timeline look like?
- Baby leaves are ready in about 30 days; full-size plants peak around 45 days from sowing. After the first cut, keep snipping outer leaves, and sow a fresh bed every 2 weeks.
- How close can leaf lettuce be planted?
- Space 6 inches apart in rows 9 inches apart for full heads, or broadcast at 2-3 inches for baby greens.
- How much does one leaf lettuce plant produce?
- About 0.5 lb of harvestable leaves over repeated cut-and-come-again pickings.
- How quickly can I harvest leaf lettuce?
- Baby leaves are ready in about 30 days; full-size plants reach peak at roughly 45 days from sowing.