Growing lettuce

• Lettuce grows best in full sun but can tolerate limited shade. Some varieties do well only in cool weather (60 to 70 deg. F.); others are heat tolerant. (See individual variety descriptions for details.)

• Space plants 6 to 16 inches apart (6 inches for the mini romaine, 10 to 12 inches apart for most other lettuces except the largest varieties).

• Lettuce grows best in cool weather.

• Before planting, add some general purpose fertilizer and a little compost to the soil.

• Harvest whole heads when ready. You can cut heads at a small size for baby lettuce. Don’t wait too long to harvest lettuce when mature, as it will become bitter as it begins to bolt (bloom).

  PLEASE NOTE: The plants on my farm table have NOT been hardened off. They are straight from the greenhouse.
  You can do one of the following:
  1. Expose them gradually to outdoor conditions over a week
  -OR (as I do)-
  2. Plant them immediately and give them protection from excess sun, wind, and rain for a week or two.

2026

(Descriptions and photos are from the seed company websites unless otherwise noted.)

Little Gem Pearl - mini romaine

Lactuca sativa. Mini Green Romaine. 50 days.
A selection of Little Gem, this variety makes miniature heads of green romaine, and is possibly the best for sweet flavor. Because they are so compact, you can plant at twice the density of standard head lettuce, thus yielding more heads per bed foot. Also a great variety for container growing. A Royal Horticultural Society award winner, originally from England and said to be resistant to DM 1, 5 and 7. Seed produced by Avoca in Corvallis, Oregon. (Adaptive Seeds)

Landis Winter - bibb/butterhead

(Lactuca sativa)
50-60 days. Roughwood Seed Collection acquired this dark green classic Pennsylvania Dutch winter lettuce in 1994 from the well-known lettuce collector Mary Schultz of Monroe, Washington. A Pennsylvania Dutch selection of the now-extinct late 1700s variety known as White Tennisball, this is one of the hardiest, most frost-resistant lettuces we have ever grown. It even survived the Polar Vortex during the severe winter of 2013-2014. Each head reaches 11 to 12 inches in diameter with a loose butterhead appearance. Plant 14 inches apart in early September for salad greens through December and January. (Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds) This seed was a gift from the supplier.

Below are varieties offered in 2025. Some may also be available this year. I’m still working on updating the site.

Bauer - oak leaf

43 days. 2022 AAS winner. Dark green oak leaf. Unique to green oak leafs, Bauer has a stunning dark color and a more crisp, durable leaf. The heads sit a little higher off the ground for improved harvestability and lower risk of bottom rot. These features combined with its strong disease resistance and compact habit, makes this an extremely versatile for all growers. Less fragile than traditional oak leaf types. Open pollinated variety. (Johnny’s Selected Seeds)

Newham - mini romaine

65 days. For fans of smaller statured buttery romaines, Newham outperformed Little Gem in our trials and taste tests. Multi-season lettuce produces perfectly uniform, erect, compact plants. The deep green rounds leaves have a smooth margin, pleated midrib and a sweet juicy flavor. At 8 inches tall and only 6 inches wide, these plants can be packed tightly into a dense planting or container, and with extensive disease resistance, you’ll have a healthy, delicious crop any time of year. Open pollinated variety. (Territorial Seed)

Merlot - leaf type

55 days. Striking, deep dark red, almost purple frilly leaves. A real eye-catcher in the garden and one of the darkest lettuces you can grow. The plant is nothing less than stunning. A very crisp and open headed leaf type that stands upright with a waxy shine that makes an ideal salad lettuce at every stage. Very high in antioxidants and bitter-free. Open pollinated variety. (Territorial Seed)

Rosaine - mini romaine

52 days. Our new favorite Little Gem type. Rosaine produces very uniform crops of  glossy maroon heads with green, dense hearts. Not only do these 6–7 inch heads look gorgeous, they’re succulent and tasty. We love Little Gem types for their compact habit and ability to pack a lot of plants in a tight space. Add superior disease resistance, and this is the variety that will be successful in the garden, coldframe, greenhouse, or hydroponic environment. Open pollinated variety. (Territorial Seed)