Lettuce

Lettuce is one of the best vegetables for new gardeners because it grows quickly, and you can start harvesting outer leaves before the whole head is even mature. It does best in the cooler parts of the growing season, since heat makes lettuce bitter and causes it to bolt (go to seed) fast. Succession planting a few every couple of weeks is the trick to having fresh salad greens all season, instead of one big harvest all at once. Whether you’re growing crisp iceberg, buttery bibb, or loose-leaf varieties, our tips below will help you get a steady supply of homegrown lettuce for your family’s table from spring through fall.