Damon Mcknight
Iceberg lettuce is a type of crisp heading lettuce that can be grown in Australia all year round with minimal care. It is a cool-season vegetable that prefers to be planted in cooler weather, but modern plant breeding has resulted in varieties that can be grown across Australia throughout the year. Iceberg lettuce is easy to grow from seed and can be planted in pots or garden beds. It requires a rich, free-draining soil with regular watering, and protection from snails and slugs, which can cause significant damage to the crop. With the right care, your iceberg lettuce will be ready to harvest in 10 to 14 weeks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height | 15-40cm |
| Foliage | Green or red foliage |
| Climate | All climates and areas. Protect from heavy frost |
| Position | Full sun (at least 6 hours of sunshine a day) or part shade |
| Feeding | Not required if soil is improved prior to planting. Feed fortnightly at half strength using a manure/compost tea |
| Watering | Regular watering, especially in dry or hot conditions. Do not allow to dry out, but do not overwater in humid environments |
| Soil | Rich, free-draining soil with an alkaline pH. Improve the soil by adding compost or Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser |
| Seed depth | 3mm |
| Seed spacing | 10-20cm apart, depending on variety |
| Harvest time | 10-14 weeks |
| Pests | Slugs and snails |
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What You'll Learn
Iceberg lettuce is a type of crisp heading lettuce
Lettuce needs at least six hours of sunshine a day, but some varieties will tolerate a partly shaded position. During the summer, it is best to plant lettuce in a spot protected from the hottest afternoon sun. Iceberg lettuce takes around 10 to 14 weeks to reach maturity and should be harvested by pulling up the whole plant, including the roots.
Loose-leaf lettuce, on the other hand, can be harvested leaf by leaf as needed. They are also some of the fastest-growing lettuces. Cos lettuce, also known as romaine, can be harvested as a head or as individual leaves. To extend your harvest, sow a few punnets every fortnight.
Lettuces have shallow roots and thus need frequent watering, especially in hot and/or windy weather. Keep the area well mulched and test soil moisture regularly. If the soil is left to dry out, lettuce may run to seed, creating a wasted plant, taste bitter, or die.
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It grows well in full sun or part shade
Iceberg lettuce is a type of crisp heading lettuce, which produces round or tightly formed heads. It is a reliable summer favourite and can be grown year-round in Australia, with very little care after ensuring adequate feed. It is best to start new iceberg lettuce plants from seed.
Lettuce grows well in full sun or part shade. Most lettuce varieties need to be grown in full sun, with at least six hours of sunshine a day. However, some types of lettuce will tolerate a partly shaded position, especially during the hottest months. During the summer, it is best to plant lettuce in a spot that receives protection from the hottest afternoon sun or beneath taller plants that offer shade.
To grow iceberg lettuce, choose a spot in the garden with well-drained soil. You can plant seeds directly into garden beds or pots, or you can raise seedlings in trays and transplant them when they are 3-4 cm high. Keep the soil moist, as this is important for the taste of your lettuce. Feed the plants weekly with liquid plant food to promote healthy and fast growth. Applying mulch will help to keep the soil moist.
Protect your iceberg lettuce from snails and slugs, which are one of the biggest problems for young lettuce plants. Set beer traps or use snail and slug pellets to keep your crop safe.
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It can be grown in pots or garden beds
Iceberg lettuce is a type of heading lettuce, which forms a tight head in the centre of the plant. It is a cool-season crop and can be grown in Australia all year round. It can be grown in pots or garden beds, and you can start by planting seeds or seedlings. Seeds should be sown 3 mm deep and will germinate in around seven days. If you're growing your lettuce in a pot, use a premium potting mix.
When growing in pots or garden beds, space the seeds or seedlings 10–20 cm apart. If you're sowing seeds directly, thin the seedlings as they develop, but don't throw them away—transplant them elsewhere or use them as microgreens. You can also raise seedlings in trays and transplant them when they're 3–4 cm high.
Lettuce thrives in a spot with full sun (at least six hours of sunshine a day), although some varieties will tolerate partial shade. During the hottest months, it's best to plant your lettuce in a spot protected from the afternoon sun. Improve the soil before planting by adding compost or soil improver.
Lettuce has shallow roots, so regular watering is important, especially during hot or dry conditions. Applying mulch will help to conserve soil moisture. Keep an eye out for snails and slugs, which can cause significant damage to lettuce crops.
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It needs rich, free-draining soil
Iceberg lettuce is a type of head lettuce, which means that it is harvested all at once when it reaches an adequate size. Head lettuces like iceberg form a tight, round head in the centre of the plant. To harvest iceberg lettuce, you remove the whole plant, including its roots.
Iceberg lettuce, like all types of lettuce, needs rich, free-draining soil. Before planting, improve the soil by adding compost or a soil improver. Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser is one such product that can be mixed into the soil. You can also deliver a half-strength seaweed solution at planting time to encourage robust root growth.
Lettuce has shallow roots, so regular watering is required, especially in hot and/or windy weather. Keep the area well-mulched to conserve soil moisture and prevent the lettuce from drying out, which can cause it to bolt (run to flower) or become bitter. Applying mulch, like sugarcane or pea straw, around the base of the plants will help keep the soil moist.
Lettuce is easy to grow and can be planted in pots or garden beds. It is suitable for all climatic zones and can be grown year-round in Australia, although some varieties are better suited to the warmer months, while others prefer the cooler months.
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Harvest the whole plant when mature
Iceberg lettuce is a type of head lettuce, which means it forms a round or tight head in the centre of the plant. When mature, the whole plant, including its roots, can be harvested all at once. This is in contrast to loose-leaf lettuce, which doesn't form a central head and can be harvested leaf by leaf as needed.
To grow iceberg lettuce, you'll need to start with seeds or seedlings. Choose a spot in your garden that gets full sun (at least six hours of sunshine a day) or partial shade, depending on the variety you're growing. Most lettuce varieties need full sun, but some, like Yates Lettuce Baby Combo, will tolerate partial shade. Check the seed packet of your chosen variety to see how much sunlight it prefers.
Improve the soil before sowing by mixing in a soil improver and plant fertiliser or adding compost or a soil improver. Lettuce seeds are tiny and should be sown only 3 mm deep. If you're raising seedlings, use trays of seed-raising mix and transplant them when they're 3-4 cm high. Keep the soil moist to prevent a bitter taste and feed the plants weekly with liquid plant food. Apply mulch to help retain moisture and protect your crop from snails and slugs, which can cause significant damage.
Harvest your iceberg lettuce when the heads are tight and round, usually after 10-14 weeks of growth. Pull up the whole plant, roots and all. To ensure a continuous supply of fresh lettuce, plant a new punnet or row of seeds every couple of weeks.
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Frequently asked questions
You can grow iceberg lettuce from seeds or seedlings. Seeds should be sown directly into garden beds or pots, or raised in seedling trays and transplanted when they are 3-4cm high. Space them 10-20cm apart. Iceberg lettuce is a crisp heading lettuce, so you should harvest the whole plant, including the roots, when the heads are tight and round.
Iceberg lettuce takes 10-12 weeks to mature. You can start picking young leaves after just a few weeks.
Lettuce is traditionally a cool-season vegetable, but modern plant breeding means there are now varieties available across Australia that can be grown year-round.
Iceberg lettuce needs rich, free-draining soil. Improve the soil before planting by adding compost or a soil improver.
Water iceberg lettuce regularly, especially during hot and/or windy weather. Keep the soil moist to prevent the lettuce from becoming bitter.
