Hi Dean,

In zone 5 you could start WS lettuce anytime after Dec 21st, but it won't germinate until early to mid spring, for you that is likely at the start of May.

I WS lettuce every year, my faves are mesclun or salad blends because of the great variety and colors.

With milk jugs or any container, three inches of soil is a minimum.

Trudi

Hi Dean,
I direct sow my lettuce into pots at the beginning of March. The seeds usually sprout in mid-March. Sometimes they come up quicker, sometimes later. The sprouts are very hardy. They handle freezing weather just fine.
Remy

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:441323}}

This is one I just haven't wintersowed because they direct sow so well for me. I start them in mid March to early April here as soon as the ground is workable. I also direct sowed a fall crop end of September and I'm already picking salads. It will take a hard freeze to knock them down :D

Vera

Can I just leave the lettuce in the milk jugs and harvest from there instead of transplanting?

Dean

Hi again Dean,
You should use something deeper like the pots I use if you don't want to transplant. The roots need more depth than a milk jug will give unless you make the jug full of dirt : )
Remy