About
The attractive red-tinged bronze leaves of this lovely loose-leaf lettuce are deeply lobed, like an oak leaf, and look very pretty in salads. This reliable variety will tolerate some hot weather and is very slow to bolt. It is a cut-and-come-again type, so you can pick the outer leaves over several weeks and the heart continues producing more. Alternate plants with 'Green Salad Bowl' lettuces for a pretty and colourful edging in flowerbeds and decorative veg gardens. Sow March – July, harvest May – October.
About the genus
Lactuca can be annuals, biennials, perennials or shrubs, with alternate leaves, milky white sap and daisy-like flowers in white, yellow or blue. The genus includes a wide range of wild plants, as well as species cultivated for their edible leaves (lettuce)
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing, West-facing, North-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationGrow in full sun in moisture-retentive soil. Soil should be reasonably fertile so you can improve soil by adding organic matter, such as well-rotted manure, in the autumn. Lettuces grow best on soil that is close to neutral so if you have very acidic or alkaline soil you may want to consider raised beds, containers or improving the pH of your soil. Water when the soil is dry, ideally early in the morning. Harvest from May until October. See lettuce cultivation for more information.
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed, sowing from March until July. Seed germination is poor if soil temperatures are very warm therefore if sowing in ho t weather sow in the evening and water well after sowing.
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to birds, slugs, snails and lettuce root aphid.
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds and lettuce downy mildew. Lettuce mosaic virus can affect overwintering crops.