Leaf Lettuce Seeds - cut lettuce and loose leaf lettuce varieties
Leaf lettuce seeds bring particularly productive and easy to grow salad varieties to the garden. Leaf lettuce, cut lettuce and loose leaf lettuce do not form firm heads, but grow as loose rosettes with tender leaves that can be harvested repeatedly over many weeks.
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The term leaf lettuce includes various headless lettuce varieties from the species Lactuca sativa. Unlike head lettuce, these varieties do not form compact heads but grow as loose leaf rosettes with frilly or oak leaf shaped leaves.
Typical leaf lettuces include well known varieties such as Lollo Rosso, Lollo Bionda and the popular Salad Bowl types. Their leaves can be harvested individually from the outside towards the centre, while the heart of the plant continues to grow. In this way leaf lettuces provide a continuous harvest of fresh salad leaves over many weeks.
In gardening, the terms leaf lettuce, cut lettuce and loose leaf lettuce are often used synonymously. With leaf lettuce individual leaves are harvested, while cut lettuce is usually cut back completely and then regrows.
Sowing and Growing Leaf Lettuce
Leaf lettuce seeds can be sown over a long period. The main sowing season runs from March to September directly outdoors. For a continuous harvest, it is advisable to sow every two to three weeks.
The seeds are only lightly covered with soil and sown about 0.5 to 1 cm deep. Leaf lettuces prefer sunny to partially shaded locations and loose, humus rich soils with consistent moisture.
For classic leaf lettuce cultivation, plants are spaced about 20 to 25 cm apart. Cut lettuce can be sown more densely, as the plants are harvested young and cut back completely. A consistent water supply is important so that the leaves remain tender and do not become bitter.
Harvesting Leaf Lettuce over many weeks
Leaf lettuce is one of the most rewarding salad crops in the vegetable garden. By regularly harvesting the outer leaves, the plants continue to grow and provide fresh salad leaves for a period of four to six weeks.
Many leaf lettuce varieties are known for their particularly decorative leaves. Curly varieties such as Lollo Rosso or Lollo Bionda add texture to salads with their strongly ruffled leaves, while oak leaf lettuces such as Red Salad Bowl or Green Salad Bowl are especially tender and aromatic with their softly lobed leaves.
FAQ about Leaf Lettuce
What is leaf lettuce?
Leaf lettuce refers to lettuce varieties without a firm head, where individual leaves are harvested from the outside towards the centre. The heart of the plant remains and continues to produce new leaves.
What is the difference between leaf lettuce and cut lettuce?
With leaf lettuce, individual leaves are harvested, while cut lettuce is usually cut back completely and then regrows.
When can leaf lettuce be harvested?
Depending on weather conditions, leaf lettuce is ready to harvest about four to six weeks after sowing and can be harvested over several weeks.
