Should I water my lettuce every day?

QUESTION: How often should I water my lettuce? Should I water my lettuce every day? -Paula W.

ANSWER: Lettuce should be watered not daily but instead about twice a week, or once every four or five days, for most of its growing period. It will need to be watered lightly but more frequently for the first two weeks after planting, perhaps daily, depending on your climate. The rest of its growing season, water lettuce twice a week to a depth of six inches.

If you aren’t sure whether lettuce plants need to be watered, you can test the moisture level of the soil by sticking your finger about an inch into the ground near where your lettuce plants are growing. If it feels moist to the touch and earth sticks to your fingers, the ground is still damp, and plants do not yet need to be watered.

If the ground is drying out too quickly and failing to retain sufficient water for your lettuce plants, consider adding a layer of mulch about two inches thick. Mulch will help keep the ground cool and prevent water from evaporating so quickly from the soil.