Start with the meals you actually make
A short row of salad is often easier to use than a whole bed ready on the same weekend. In a UK or Irish garden, choose a sheltered patch you can check frequently. Count how often your household eats fresh leaves before deciding how much to sow.
Divide the space into small batches
Mark several short strips or separate containers. Sow the first batch, label its variety and date, and leave the remaining space available. Start the next batch when you can see how the first is progressing. Use the seed packet for the variety’s temperature and spacing requirements.
Let conditions change the timetable
Cool weather can slow a batch; a hot spell can shorten its useful harvesting period. Do not keep sowing automatically if earlier plants are untouched. Check moisture below the surface and protect vulnerable seedlings. The RHS lettuce guide explains the differences between loose-leaf and hearting varieties.
Record the gap, not just the harvest
Note the week when leaves become usable and when quality declines. Next season, adjust the interval using your own notes. Success means a manageable supply with room for another sowing, rather than the maximum possible number of plants.