Crop calendar
Lettuce is the safest first crop because it stays compact, germinates quickly, and gives a visible harvest window in roughly five weeks. This guide gives you the timing, system fit, growing ranges, and mistakes to avoid before you add the crop to your calendar.
Date tool
Use these examples as a quick planning shortcut, then save your exact planted date in the tracker.
Estimated windows use the crop cycle plus a five-day buffer on each side because light, variety, temperature, and root health can move the real harvest date.
Planner
A practical cycle for lettuce in an indoor setup, using the crop's normal germination and harvest range.
Start Lettuce, save the planted date, and keep the tray warm enough for germination.
Look for even sprouts, weak seedlings, and stretched growth before moving the light closer.
Move the strongest starts into NFT channel, or thin crowded plants so roots have room.
Cut the whole head or harvest outer leaves while the center keeps growing.
| Metric | Recommended range | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | easy | Sets expectation before you choose the crop. |
| Germination | 4 days | Use this as the first check-in date. |
| Harvest window | 30-40 days | The real date moves with temperature, light, and variety. |
| Best system | NFT channel | Matches the crop to the equipment style. |
| pH | 5.8-6.2 | Keep nutrient uptake in a forgiving range. |
| EC | 0.8-1.4 mS/cm | Avoid underfeeding or overfeeding the crop. |
| Variety | Best use | Beginner note |
|---|---|---|
| Butterhead | Default first test | Use this to learn the normal lettuce cycle. |
| Romaine mini | Second run comparison | Try after the first lettuce crop finishes cleanly. |
| Loose leaf | Flavor or color variation | Try after the first lettuce crop finishes cleanly. |
| Checkpoint | Timing | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Light check | First 3 days after sprout | Keep Lettuce compact by lowering weak light or raising intensity slowly. |
| Nutrient check | Weekly | Hold pH around 5.8-6.2 and EC around 0.8-1.4 mS/cm unless the plant shows stress. |
| Canopy check | Mid-cycle | Keep spacing near 6-8 in between heads so leaves dry between light cycles. |
| Next sowing | Day 21 | Start the next Lettuce batch before the current one finishes. |
Lettuce is best for fast repeat harvests for beginner indoor growers. Use NFT channel, keep the grow area around 60-70 F, and plan for 14-16 hours of light.
Do not wait until harvest day to start the next seed. For Lettuce, open the tracker around day 21 and start the next batch if the current crop looks healthy.
This creates a steady indoor rhythm instead of one full harvest followed by an empty system.
Skip Lettuce for this cycle if you cannot hold the room near 60-70 F, if the system cannot fit 6-8 in between heads, or if your light schedule is far from 14-16 hours.
Plan around 30-40 days for a beginner indoor setup, with germination usually starting around day 4.
NFT channel is the best default here because it matches the crop size, harvest cycle, and beginner maintenance needs.
Letting the room run too warm, which causes bitter leaves and bolting.