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Have you ever thought about growing lettuce and wondered if you need to protect this type of plant during a frost or can it withstand the frosty weather? So, whether or not you are looking to grow lettuce, or have grown lettuce, or may, you are just wondering why every time you store your fresh head of lettuce inside the refrigerator, it starts to turn colors.

Down below, I will talk about symptoms the lettuce will have if it has become damaged by the frost, if you should protect your lettuce during the frost, and if the refrigerator will damage your fresh head of lettuce. Also, what are the best temperatures for planting lettuce ?

Should Lettuce Be Protected From A Frost?

Did you know that lettuce has been removed from the ground? But lettuce continues to grow and make your harvest more successful? If the temperature outside starts to fall, the seedlings will tolerate the cold sometimes.

If there are cold clear nights causing frost can damage your lettuce even if the cold snap is for a pretty long period. Also, if you do not grow lettuce and only buy a head of lettuce and store it in your refrigerator, it can make your lettuce prone to frost and damaging it.

Can Lettuce Survive A Frost?

Well, lettuce can tolerate the cold weather for only a short period. The lettuce will protect itself from the frost-prone areas by slowing down its growth. Butterhead and Romaine are the two most common for being able to tolerate the cold.

So, if you have a garden, you might want to put a towel or blanket over your plants to protect them from the cold, harsh weather. But, lettuce will start to have symptoms from the frost.

Lettuce And Frost Symptoms

If the lettuce has frost damage, it can cause many different symptoms. The brand new leaves on the lettuce will become destroyed in the frost giving the leaf thickening tissue.

So, if you have any plants been destroyed due to the frost, you will want to remove them because you will not eat them.

  • The outer leaf is called the cuticle leaf that separates its underlying tissue.
  • The epidermal cells die, giving the lettuce a bronze look.
  • If the lettuce is to the point of no return, the lettuce will have spots from the necrotic lesions on the leaf’s veins.

So What Are The Growing Temperatures For Lettuce?

For lettuce to grow correctly, its temperature should range anywhere between sixty to sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit. Most varieties of lettuce that are completely hard can survive as low as twenty degrees Fahrenheit. Also, for the type that grows best at a temperature around seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit, their seeds can germinate in forty degrees.

So, if you plan on planting for early spring, you will want to do a hardened transplant having one source started one month ahead of planting your lettuce outside. Remember, you will want to put them 1/4 deep and ten-fourteen inches apart when you are growing your lettuce seeds. The lettuce’s soil should be cool to the touch and moist, helping the lettuce germinates much better.