Determined chefs go out of their way to find the freshest, most tender heads of romaine lettuce available. Grocery shoppers, on the other hand, are often limited to big heads with tough, strong-tasting leaves.

Luckily, lettuce is one of the easiest crops to grow. Seeds germinate quickly and plants grow with little fuss. In most areas of the West, you can grow successive crops in fall and spring; in mild coastal areas, you can grow lettuce year-round. So get going and soon you'll be able to try our garden caesar salad recipe.

SOWING. Start seeds three to four weeks before you plan to set them out into the garden. Sow in flats or sixpacks filled with moistened potting soil or seed-starting mix. Cover seeds with 1/8 inch soil. Place flats in bright, filtered light. Keep the soil moist and maintain soil temperature between 40 degrees and 68 degrees. For successive crops, sow seeds every week. Plant seedlings between developing heads.

PLANTING. When seedlings are ready to go in the ground, gradually introduce them to full sun over a few days. Transplant into rich, well-composted soil. Keep the soil moist ― particularly critical the first week after transplanting. Lettuce can also be grown in containers filled with potting mix.

HARVESTING. For baby lettuce, harvest leaves when 3 to 4 inches long. For a crispy head, let it reach full size.

Seed sources
Some greens are red: Abbreviations after variety names refer to seed sources listed below.

(C) The Cook's Garden; (800) 457-9703 or www.cooksgarden.com.

(S) Shepherd's Garden Seeds; (860) 482-3638 or www.shepherdseeds.com.

(T) Territorial Seed Company; (541) 942-9547 or