When to Plant Celtuce in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Celtuce guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Apr to Jul
- Days to harvest
- about 13 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Lactuca sativa var. asparagina. Stem lettuce grown for its enlarged stem and young leaves. Germination declines in hot soil; steady moisture reduces bolting.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr S/D
- May S/T/D
- Jun S/T/D
- Jul T
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Celtuce included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Celtuce in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, moist, organic loam
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial shade, at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 30cm apart, 50cm between rows
- Watering
- Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and mulch to cut water loss. Avoid overhead watering to reduce disease.
- Good companions
- Dwarf Beans, Onion, Carrot, Radish, Chives
Tropical Growing Tips for Celtuce
Recommended Varieties
- Purple Sword (Celtuce (stem lettuce)): Sold for spring or autumn planting, sown 3 mm deep and 20 to 25 cm apart
Key Challenges
- Aphids, including currant-lettuce aphid: They suck sap, causing pale, distorted leaves and stunted plants
- Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell
- Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables
- Slugs and Snails: Eat young seedlings and tender leaves
Pro Tips
- Incorporate well-rotted manure or compost before planting; apply a nitrogen-rich liquid fertiliser fortnightly to promote fast succulent stem growth
- Apply a light organic straw mulch around plants to keep soil cool, retain moisture, and reduce weeds
Pests and problems for Celtuce in Tropical
- Downy Mildew Grow in a sunny, well-ventilated spot with good spacing and rotate leafy crops. Watch
- Common Garden Snail Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell Watch
- Slugs Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables Watch
- Crown and root rot Improve drainage with organic matter or raised beds and avoid overwatering. Watch
- Aphids, including currant-lettuce aphid Aphids, including currant-lettuce aphid: They suck sap, causing pale, distorted leaves and stunted plants Watch
Harvesting Celtuce
When ready: Thick central stem reaches 20 to 30 cm tall and around 3 to 5 cm thick, before flower buds begin forming
How to harvest: Cut the stem near ground level with a sharp knife and trim off outer lower leaves
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Celtuce
When do you plant celtuce in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Apr to Oct
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): all year
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to Nov
Can you grow celtuce all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Jul. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Celtuce in Cairns?
Cooler dry-season sowing; manage heat and moisture.
What soil temperature do Celtuce need?
Celtuce germinate best when soil temperature is between 12°C and 20°C.
How do I know when Celtuce are ready to harvest?
Thick central stem reaches 20 to 30 cm tall and around 3 to 5 cm thick, before flower buds begin forming
What are the best Celtuce varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Purple Sword (Celtuce (stem lettuce)): Sold for spring or autumn planting, sown 3 mm deep and 20 to 25 cm apart.
What grows well with Celtuce?
Good companion plants for Celtuce include: Dwarf Beans, Onion, Carrot, Radish, Chives.
Are celtuce salt tolerant?
Only a little. Celtuce are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.