Lettuce

Lettuce is an edible plant crop in Oxygen Not Included used primarily as a raw food ingredient and as a simple, early-game agricultural option. It appears in the game as a plant that can be grown on farm tiles and irrigated with appropriate liquids; it integrates into the colony's food production chain and cooking recipes that accept generic vegetables.

Lettuce plants require farming infrastructure and attention to atmosphere, temperature, and irrigation to thrive. Like other plants, they must be planted on a Farm Tile and given the correct irrigation type and frequency to avoid stunting or death. Lettuce produces harvestable yield that can be fed directly to Duplicants or used in cooking recipes that list lettuce as an ingredient. It provides a straightforward calorie source with minimal processing, making it suitable for early- to mid-game food stability.

Practical notes and usage:

• Planting and irrigation: Lettuce must be planted on Farm Tiles; ensure irrigation meets the plant's required liquid type and mass per growth cycle. Monitor growth cycles to schedule harvesting and replanting efficiently.
• Temperature management: Keep lettuce within its viable growth temperature range to prevent slowing or withering. Use insulated rooms, smart vents, or temperature-control buildings if necessary.
• Integration with other systems: Lettuce harvests can be routed to Food Storage and from there to Microbe Musher or Gas Range recipes that accept vegetables. Pair lettuce production with composting (if available) or organic recycling systems to close nutrient loops.
• Space and yield: Optimize farm layout to maximize tiles per power/maintenance cost. Rotate crops to avoid extended downtimes between harvests.
• Early-game role: Lettuce provides a simple, low-tech food option that does not require complex inputs or advanced buildings, making it reliable when more complex food chains are not yet available.

Do not use lettuce as a replacement for high-calorie or high-quality cooked meals long-term; upgrade to more efficient crops and cooked recipes as research and resources permit.