Companion Planting: Lettuce

Companion planting enhances lettuce growth and yield. Here's how to optimize your lettuce garden.

Beneficial Companions

• Beets: Lettuce provides ground cover, beets maximize space.
• Carrots: Lettuce shades soil for carrots, improves growth.
• Radishes: Quick-growing radishes mark rows for slow-growing lettuce.
• Strawberries: Lettuce acts as living mulch for strawberries.

Growth-Boosting Plants

• Chives: Improve flavor and deter pests.
• Garlic: Acts as a natural pesticide.
• Onions: Deter pests with strong scent.

Plants to Avoid

• Broccoli: Competes for nutrients.
• Cabbage: May stunt lettuce growth.

Growing Tips

1. Soil: Well-draining, rich in organic matter with pH 6.0-7.0.
2. Sunlight: Partial shade in hot climates, full sun in cooler areas.
3. Water: Consistent moisture, but avoid waterlogging.
4. Spacing: 6-8 inches apart for head lettuce, 4 inches for leaf lettuce.
5. Succession planting: Sow every 2 weeks for continuous harvest.
6. Harvesting: Pick outer leaves for continual growth.
7. Temperature: Cool-season crop, plant in spring and fall.

Garden Layouts

Small Garden

Lettuce centered, radishes and chives on sides.

Medium Garden

Lettuce row with carrot and beet companions.

Large Garden

Grid layout with diverse companions. Rotate seasonally.

Long Garden

Lettuce rows with diverse companions for pest control and space maximization.

Conclusion

Companion planting enhances lettuce growth and yield. Implement these strategies for healthier, more productive lettuce plants.

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