If you knew where most grocery store lettuce comes from and what it goes through before it lands in that plastic box, you’d never look at bagged salad the same way again.

In this Best of Growing Joy episode, I’m sharing a practical, beginner-friendly guide on how to grow lettuce from seed so you can harvest fresh, crunchy salad greens right outside your door with my friend and garden coach, Nicole Burke of Gardener. We talk about simple ways to grow lettuce in raised beds, containers, grow bags, and even tiny balconies, so you can enjoy homegrown salads on repeat all season long!

Nicole breaks down the different types of lettuce and salad greens, when to direct sow seeds versus starting them indoors, and the watering routine that actually keeps those shallow roots happy. We also chat about easy organic pest strategies, smart spacing, and how to harvest lettuce so it keeps growing back, giving you that dreamy cut-and-come-again salad garden.

By the end of this episode, you’ll feel confident starting lettuce from seed and excited to swap those plastic boxes for vibrant, living greens just a few steps from your kitchen!

In this episode, we learn:

[00:03] Maria shares indoor hydroponic lettuce growth and outdoor lettuce garden prep.
[06:02] Why lettuce is ideal for first-time food-growing houseplant parents.
[06:53] What is Gardenary all about?
[08:23] How Nicole makes beautiful raised-bed gardens
[14:19] Where are 98% of the United States lettuces grown?
[17:01] What materials are needed for lettuce?
[20:47] Where can you find a wide array of quality lettuce seeds and seed mixes?
[23:27] Where to get a potting mix, soil, fertilizer, or compost for your garden beds/containers?
[25:15] What lettuce does Nicole recommend for beginners?
[24:34] Lettuce Category #1: Loose leaf
[29:15] Lettuce Category #2: Head lettuce
[31:09] Is Nicole indoor-starting or direct-sowing lettuce?
[32:32] How do you calculate when it's time to start direct sowing?
[35:55] What is the process of growing lettuce from seed?
[36:14] Process #1: If you have limited space
[40:40] Where to find a nutrition program for weight management, more energy, and clear skin?
[42:55] Process #2: If you live in an apartment
[46:01] What are Nicole’s tips for harvesting?
[47:53] What mistakes do people commonly make in growing lettuce?
[49:58] How to eat Swiss chard
[52:23] Have you heard of Nicole’s newest book Kitchen Garden Revival?
[57:45] Where can you follow Nicole?

Mentioned in our conversation:

Growing Joy Episode 120 Designing and Planning My Garden // Coaching With Nicole of Gardenary
Ivette Soler’s book The Edible Front Yard: The Mow-Less, Grow-More Plan for a Beautiful, Bountiful Garden
Hydroponic planter
Nicole Burke’s book Kitchen Garden Revival
Nicole’s Burke’s book Leaves, Roots & Fruit
Rocky Top Mix Salad Blend
Territorial Seed Company Spring Mixes
Martha Stewart's book Vegetables: Inspired Recipes and Tips for Choosing, Cooking, and Enjoying the Freshest Seasonal Flavors: A Cookbook
10 Years, 4 Cities, 8 Gardens-Nicole Burke's Kitchen Garden Journey

Craving fresher, crunchier salads straight from your garden?

Check out the full show notes and blog for my favorite beginner lettuce varieties, seed-starting tips, and easy harvest tricks!

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