How to Grow Iceberg
Lactuca sativa var. capitata 'Iceberg'
Iceberg lettuce is a crisp, cool-season leafy green favored for its sturdy, pale-green heads that maintain texture well in salads. Gardeners prize this variety for its reliability in cooler months and ability to withstand light frosts while delivering a refreshing crunch.
📷 Wikipedia: LettuceStarting Iceberg: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Iceberg is not usually started indoors.
Iceberg lettuce is best direct-sown outdoors rather than transplanted, though seedlings started indoors can be moved out gently once the soil has warmed sufficiently and frost danger has passed.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8 to encourage healthy root development. As a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors or start indoors two to six weeks before your last spring frost date. Press seeds gently into the soil surface at a depth of about one-quarter inch, then keep the medium consistently moist until germination occurs within seven to ten days.
Space plants twelve to fifteen inches apart in rows to ensure adequate airflow and head formation. Water deeply once or twice weekly, aiming for one to one-and-a-half inches total per week to prevent stress. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, avoiding contact with the leaves to reduce rot risk.
Watch for aphids, cutworms, wireworms, and flea beetles; inspect regularly and remove pests by hand or use row covers. Prevent tipburn, bottom rot, downy mildew, and premature bolting by maintaining consistent moisture and providing cool conditions. Harvest heads when they are firm and compact, typically eighty to ninety-five days after sowing.
When to Plant Iceberg
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | August – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | August – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | June – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | April – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | March – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | March – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | March – December |
Companion Plants for Iceberg
✓ Good companions
Loosens soil for lettuce roots and doesn't compete for space
Repels aphids and improves lettuce growth and flavor
Attracts beneficial insects that prey on lettuce pests
Deters aphids, slugs, and rabbits that commonly attack lettuce
Repels nematodes, aphids, and other pests that damage lettuce
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Breaks up soil, deters flea beetles, and matures quickly between lettuce plantings
Similar growing requirements and can be interplanted for succession harvests
✗ Keep away from
Competes heavily for nutrients and can shade out lettuce
Allelopathic compounds inhibit lettuce germination and growth
Large root system competes for nutrients and water needed by shallow-rooted lettuce
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
