About
The fresh lime green leaves of this light and crunchy lettuce shine out from the plot and are every bit as tasty as they look. Deeply-lobed, a little like an oak leaf, they are borne in profusion from a loose heart, so you can harvest the outer leaves over several weeks and it will continue producing more. Alternate plants with 'Red Salad Bowl' lettuces for a pretty and colourful edging in flowerbeds and decorative veg gardens. Sow March to July, harvest May to September.
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 September. See lettuce cultivation for more information.
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
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.