Lettuce Iceberg Ice Queen

What Lettuce Iceberg Ice Queen is

Lettuce Iceberg Ice Queen (Lactuca sativa) is an annual vegetable of the Asteraceae family. This iceberg lettuce variety dates back to 1883 and gets its name because it is cold hardy but also tolerates heat well.

This bright, emerald-green lettuce with frilly leaves has a crisp texture and an excellent fresh flavour. Also tasty as baby leaves, which are ready 21 days after planting.

You can harvest the outer, frilly leaves while waiting for the head to form.

Iceberg lettuce is slightly sweeter. It has a longer growing period (two weeks) than other types.

If you want to eat lettuce every week, you need to sow/plant regularly.

Lettuce and salad are the foundation of the spring table — crisp, fresh and quick. With the right variety and sowing in several batches, you have fresh salad from March to November.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 94%
• Seeds per packet: 807–1093 pcs (1 g)
• Seed origin: China
• Sowing: February – September; direct or as seedlings
• Harvest: March – November
• Position: sun to partial shade

When to sow Lettuce Iceberg Ice Queen

Lettuce Iceberg Ice Queen seeds are sown in February – September. Harvest takes place from March to November. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Lettuce Iceberg Ice Queen

• Sowing method: direct or seedlings
• Depth: 0.5 cm (the seeds like light)
• Spacing: 25–30 cm
• Germination: 4–8 days at 12–20 °C
• Position: sun to partial shade

Lettuce is hardy and can be planted as soon as the soil is workable. Can be sown directly, 3 seeds in rows 20-30 cm apart. Cover the seeds lightly with about 1 cm of fine soil and firm lightly. Thin to one plant per position, which will ensure a full spacing of 30 cm. Sow every 3 weeks for a continuous supply of fresh lettuce. The seeds germinate even at a soil temperature of 4°C, but poorly above 22°C. In dry weather, keep the soil moist.

Sow shallowly — the seeds germinate better in the light. Above 25 °C germination stops and the plants bolt; in summer, sow in partial shade. Water regularly.

Harvest and use

Harvest whole heads when they are firm, or cut individual leaves in the case of leaf varieties.

Frequently asked questions

When should Lettuce Iceberg Ice Queen be sown?

The recommended months for sowing are February – September. Sowing method: direct or seedlings.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 807–1093 seeds, pack size 1 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 94%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

Why does lettuce bolt?

From heat and long days. Sow in spring and autumn, and in summer use bolt-resistant varieties and partial shade.

How often should lettuce be sown?

Every 2–3 weeks — that way you have a continuous fresh harvest.