Prickly lettuce
Lactuca serriola · Asteraceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant prickly lettuce: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- June to September
- Adult size
- 60 to 120 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Hardy (tolerates temperate winters)
- Origin
- Mediterranean Basin and Western Asia
- Soil type
- Well-drained, dry to moderately moist
- Exposure
- Full sun
Care
Exposure
Install your prickly lettuce in full sun to promote growth. It tolerates partial shade in hot climates. Good light encourages robust development and prevents leggy growth.
Watering
Water regularly during the initial growth phase to keep the soil moist. Once established, this plant resists drought well. Avoid excessive watering that would promote stagnant moisture.
Soil
Plant in well-drained, light, and not overly rich soil. This species prefers dry to moderately moist terrain. Soil that is too fertile would encourage excessive growth at the expense of hardiness.
Pruning and maintenance
Remove spent flowers to extend the vegetative phase if desired. You can harvest young leaves as you go. At the end of the season, leave a few stems for natural self-seeding.
Fertilizer
This robust plant requires little fertilizer. A moderate application of compost at planting time is more than enough. Avoid excess nitrogen, which would weaken the plant.
Diseases and pests
Watch for aphids and slugs, particularly on young shoots. Good air circulation limits fungal diseases. In case of infection, promote aeration and reduce leaf moisture.
Did you know?
Prickly lettuce is the supposed wild ancestor of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Its leaves display a remarkable characteristic: they orient themselves vertically in intense sunlight (a phenomenon called the "compass plant" effect), which reduces direct exposure during the hottest hours and limits evaporation. This clever adaptation makes it a pioneering plant perfectly suited to arid regions.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.