Salinas Lettuce

Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost, sowing at a depth of approximately 1/4 inch in seed-starting mix. Keep soil consistently moist and provide bright light once seedlings emerge. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed.

Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last spring frost, spacing plants 8 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting. Salinas can also be succession-planted every 2 to 3 weeks for continuous harvests throughout the growing season.

Direct sow seeds outdoors 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost, and again in late summer for a fall crop. Sow seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch directly into the garden bed, spacing them roughly 8 inches apart or sowing more densely and thinning seedlings as they grow.

Harvest Salinas Lettuce when leaves reach full size but remain tender, typically 70 to 79 days after sowing. Pinch or cut outer leaves from the base of the mound as needed for a continuous harvest, or wait and cut the entire head just above soil level when it reaches desired size. Harvest in early morning when leaves are crisp and hydrated for best texture and flavor. Cut before the center begins to elongate or show signs of bolting, which indicates the plant is transitioning to flowering.