Lettuce Lollo Rossa

What Lettuce Lollo Rossa is

Lettuce Lollo Rossa (Lactuca sativa) is an annual vegetable of the Asteraceae family. This wonderful Italian variety gives a lettuce with frilled leaves. They are red and fragrant.

They add colour and texture to the salad bowl. A classic lettuce that gives perfect plants.

Reaches 15 cm. tall.

The young leaves have an excellent flavour, a crunchy and tender texture, and contain protein, sugars, provitamin A, B vitamins, vitamins C, E and K, and minerals (such as calcium and potassium).

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: 90%
• Pack size: 1 g
• Seed origin: Italy
• Sowing: February – September; direct or as seedlings
• Harvest: March – November
• Position: sun to partial shade

When to sow Lettuce Lollo Rossa

Lettuce Lollo Rossa 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 Lollo Rossa

• 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 Lollo Rossa be sown?

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

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 90%. 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.