Lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Wild relatives of lettuce are dated to 6,000 years ago in middle Asia, and the lettuce we eat today is known to have been domesticated in Egypt 4,500 years ago. Most lettuce varieties require cool temperatures to grow well. Succession planting helps for a continual harvest. Avoid growing in the heat of mid-summer unless the variety is noted to do well in heat. Plants can survive light frost and be grown in early winter, under row cover or cold frame.