Container Lettuce

[Christian]

Can I start growing lettuce indoors for later transfer to another container?
Can lettuce and kale be grown outdoors in containers?
How deep should the soil be and how much space around each lettuce plant?
I'm from Minnesota zone 4
Thanks for any help!

 

[Esther Knapicius]

BTW, if your going to fuss with Lettuce better to fuss with Romaine instead. check out the nutrition value of each. work smarter not harder.

 

[Christian]

BTW, if your going to fuss with Lettuce better to fuss with Romaine instead. check out the nutrition value of each. work smarter not harder.

I'm actually growing various lettuce for my aviary. I breed canaries and they need lots of greens.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

I'm actually growing various lettuce for my aviary. I breed canaries and they need lots of greens.

Romaine is a higher nutrition lettuce for canaries. I had an aviary in my early 20's fed them Romaine.
https://www.quora.com/What-can-canaries-eat-on-a-daily-basis

 

[CanadianLori]

I agree with @Esther Knapicius and romaine are not very demanding. I grow them too. Just not for any birds

 

[Silentrunning]

And Romaine actually has flavor too.

 

[Silentrunning]

Can I start growing lettuce indoors for later transfer to another container?
Can lettuce and kale be grown outdoors in containers?
How deep should the soil be and how much space around each lettuce plant?
I'm from Minnesota zone 4
Thanks for any help!

It seems we answered questions you didn't ask and didn't answer the questions you asked.

#1 - I wouldn't.
#2 - Yes. I have had good success with both.
#3 - The deeper the better. Go at least 5"
#3.5 - Go by the instructions on the seed package.
In zone 4, don't forget spinach. A great addition to any salad.

 

[Tjohn]

Lettuce does not transplant well, and grows so fast on it's own that it really doesn't make sense to start it in a temporary home. Containers work GREAT! Even in my Zone 3, lettuce and kale are staples in my garden.

 

[marlingardener]

I have planted different kinds of leaf lettuces in containers (like a strawberry jar) such as Red Sails, Simpson's Elite, and Oakleaf lettuces. They did well with a soil depth of about 8", each lettuce was in a 3" opening in the jar, but when I plant them in the open garden I don't worry about spacing--lettuces can crowd without a problem. If there are too many in one space I just pull the young ones for salad, and then later cut the leaves from the bigger ones for salad, or if they are past their prime, feed the leaves to the hens.
I've never tried starting lettuces and then transplanting to another container. Leaf lettuces are so easy, and so prolific that, like Tjohn, I don't bother starting and then transplanting.
May we see photos of your canaries?

 

[Christian]

I've been doing a bit more reading on lettuce. I had no idea there are so many romaine. I assumed it was just one lettuce. What leaf or head lettuce was. Learn something everyday. How close can the rows of romaine be, without overcrowding.

 

[headfullofbees]

I transplant ALL lettuce, or slugs would have it all.
I sowed some (winter density) in a seed tray yesterday.