How to grow Lettuce (Arctic King)

Lactuca sativa

🥕 Vegetable 🌱 Grown each year

A very cold-hardy crisphead lettuce, 'Arctic King' is known for its ability to withstand frost and even overwinter in milder climates. It produces large, firm, light green heads with a crisp texture, making it excellent for early spring or late autumn harvests.

At a glance: Sow early March to mid July, harvest from early May.

When to sow, plant and harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Sow outdoors

Harvest

Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.

Growing Lettuce (Arctic King): what it needs

Light: Full sun · 6+ hours a day
Watering: Every 1-2 days
Soil: Rich, well-draining loam · pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing: 20-30cm apart
In pots: Grows well in containers
Feeding: Light feed with balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks once established.
Harvest: About 60 days from sowing
Hardiness: USDA zones 3–10
Difficulty: Easy

Step by step

Early March – mid July · 6 weeks before the last spring frost
Sow Seeds Outdoors (optional)
Direct sow seeds 0.5cm deep in well-prepared soil. Can be sown early due to cold tolerance, and successively for continuous harvest.
7–14 days after “Sow Seeds Indoors” · Mid March
Check Germination
Seedlings should emerge in 7-14 days. Ensure consistent moisture.
14 days after “Check Germination” · Late March
Thin Seedlings
Thin seedlings to 5-10cm apart once they have 2-3 true leaves. Eat thinnings!
14 days after “Transplant/Establish Outdoors” · Early April
Monitor Growth & Water
Ensure consistent moisture, especially during dry spells. Check for pests like slugs and aphids.
30–60 days after “Monitor Growth & Water” · Early May – early June
Harvest Lettuce
Harvest outer leaves as needed (cut-and-come-again) or cut entire heads when firm and mature. Best harvested in the morning.