Romaine Lettuce
Photo: en:User:Geographer · CC BY 1.0
outdoor gardenbeginnerwaterseed

How to Propagate Romaine Lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Methods Water, seed
Difficulty Beginner
Best season Spring & fall
Time to root 1–2 weeks
Group Outdoor / garden

Another popular kitchen-scrap regrow, though with a similar honest caveat to celery: water regrowth gives a decent second harvest of small leaves, but transplanting to soil is needed for a full new head.

Water propagation

  1. Cut off the base of a lettuce head, keeping about 2 inches.
  2. Stand it in a shallow dish of water, cut side up.
  3. Set in a sunny spot; change water every couple of days.

New leaves sprout from the center within days to a week.

When to propagate

Spring and fall for best outdoor growth; can be started indoors any time.

Common problems

The base rotted. Change water frequently and keep only the bottom submerged.

Questions people ask

Can I get a full head of lettuce this way? Rarely from water alone — transplant to soil after initial regrowth for a fuller result.

Water propagation hub · Similar plants: Celery, Green Onion