Lettuce (Red Leaf)

📖 About This Plant

Lettuce (Red Leaf) encompasses a range of loose-leaf lettuce varieties whose outer leaves display shades of red, burgundy, bronze, and deep crimson that make them among the most ornamental vegetables in any garden. The most common type is Red Sails or Red Oak Leaf — varieties with deeply cut, frilly leaves colored deep red at the margins fading to pale green at the base. The flavor is mild, slightly buttery, and less assertive than romaine or crisphead types — making red leaf lettuce the most universally appealing salad base. The red pigmentation comes from anthocyanins, the same antioxidant compounds found in blueberries, giving red leaf lettuce significantly higher antioxidant content than green varieties. Red leaf lettuces are "cut and come again" loose-leaf types: harvest outer leaves individually and the plant keeps producing from the center for weeks.

📊 Quick Facts

📅 When to Plant in Your Area

🌱 Care Tips

Sow red leaf lettuce seeds directly outdoors 3–4 weeks before last frost (or start indoors 3–4 weeks ahead for transplanting), pressing seeds onto the soil surface and covering with 1/8 inch of fine soil — lettuce seeds need light and will germinate poorly if buried too deep. Thin to 6–8 inches apart. Red leaf lettuce needs consistent moisture; allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly between waterings. Feed lightly every 3 weeks with a diluted balanced fertilizer or fish emulsion — heavy feeding produces overly lush, bland-tasting leaves. For a continuous harvest through the season, cut outer leaves as they reach usable size (3–4 inches) rather than harvesting entire plants; this 'cut-and-come-again' approach from a single planting extends production by 4–6 weeks compared to waiting for a full head. In hot weather, red leaf lettuce bolts faster than romaine or crisphead types; succession sow every 2–3 weeks and grow in partial afternoon shade in zones 6–9 to extend the season. For the most intense red color, grow in full sun — partial shade produces greener, milder leaves. Red leaf lettuce grows beautifully in containers (12-inch depth minimum) and window boxes, making it ideal for patios and balconies.

🤝 Companion Plants

These plants grow well alongside Lettuce:

🌿 Related Vegetable

More vegetable that grow in similar conditions:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions