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Lettuce — Lactuca sativa

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Lettuce — Lactuca sativa

layout: base.njk title: Lettuce description: Growing Lettuce in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: cool-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below
Fresh green lettuce varieties growing in garden bed

Type: Annual
Family: Asteraceae (Compositae)
Sun: Full sun to part shade (prefers afternoon shade in warm weather)
Water: Moderate to high (consistent moisture critical)
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Hardiness: Zones 2-11 (grown as cool season annual)

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: Leaf lettuce: 4-8 oz per harvest (cut-and-come-again). Head lettuce: 8-16 oz per head.
  • Per 10' row: Leaf lettuce: 4-6 lbs. Head lettuce: 8-12 heads (6-10 lbs).
  • Per season: With succession planting (spring + fall): 15-25 lbs per 10' row.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties (5-10+)

'Black Seeded Simpson'

  • Source: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com), Johnny's Selected Seeds (johnnyseeds.com)
  • Days: 45 days
  • Notes: Classic American heirloom from 1850s. Light green leaves with brown seeds (hence name). Heat tolerant, slow to bolt. Sweet, tender flavor. Reliable producer for spring and fall.

'Red Sails'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange (seedsavers.org)
  • Days: 48 days
  • Notes: All-America Selections winner (1985). Deep red ruffled leaves, green undersides. Beautiful in mixed greens. Heat tolerant, doesn't bolt quickly. Mild, slightly nutty flavor.

'Lollo Rosso'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Bakers Creek, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (southernexposure.com)
  • Days: 45 days
  • Notes: Italian heirloom with intensely frilly, red-edged leaves Ornamental and edible. Heat tolerant for a red lettuce. Beautiful in bouquets and salads. Mild flavor with decorative appeal.

'Rouge d'Hiver' (Winter Red)

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 55 days
  • Notes: French heirloom romaine from 1800s. Cold hardy—can overwinter with protection. Red leaves in cold weather, green in warmth. Sweet, crisp texture. Excellent for winter growing in hoophouses.

'Buttercrunch'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Burpee (burpee.com)
  • Days: 65 days
  • Notes: Bibb-type with buttery texture. Heat tolerant, slow to bolt. Small, loose heads. Rich, sweet flavor. All-America Selections winner (1963). Perfect for containers.

'Merveille des Quatre Saisons' (Marvel of Four Seasons)

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 50 days
  • Notes: French heirloom from 1890s. Oakleaf shape with red-tipped leaves. Grows year-round in mild climates (hence name). Tender, sweet, nutty flavor. Beautiful loose-leaf type.

'Forellenschluss' (Speckled Trout Back)

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 52 days
  • Notes: Austrian heirloom romaine. Red speckles resembling trout back. Cold hardy, heat tolerant. Crisp, crunchy texture. Sweet, nutty flavor. Forms tall, elegant heads.

'Parris Island Cos'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 68 days
  • Notes: Classic romaine. Dark green, spoon-shaped leaves. Heat tolerant, slow to bolt. Crisp, juicy texture. Standard for Caesar salad. Reliable producer.

'Salad Bowl'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Seeds
  • Days: 45 days
  • Notes: Oakleaf type, green and red varieties. Cut-and-come-again champion. Doesn't form head, keeps producing. Heat tolerant, slow to bolt. Mild, sweet flavor.

'Jericho'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, High Mowing Organic Seeds (highmowingseeds.com)
  • Days: 55 days
  • Notes: Modern romaine, extremely heat tolerant. Green leaves, slow to bolt. Crisp, crunchy texture. Widely used by market growers for summer production. Sweet flavor even in heat.

🌾 Seed Saving

  • Method: Lettuce is self-pollinating but can cross-pollinate via insects. Allow plants to bolt (flower) by withholding water or as heat increases. Flowers are small, yellow, dandelion-like composite blooms.

Seeds mature 10-14 days after flowering, turning from soft to hard with tiny parachutes (pappus). Cut seed heads when 70% have fluffed. Hang upside down in paper bags to dry 2-3 weeks in cool, dry place with good airflow. - Isolation distance: 150-200 feet between varieties to prevent cross-pollination.

Cage individual plants if growing multiple varieties. - Viability: 3-6 years when stored in cool, dry, dark conditions in airtight containers. Silica gel packets help maintain low humidity. - Special notes: Lettuce requires vernalization (cold period) to bolt in some climates. For seed saving in short-season areas, overwinter plants or start very early indoors.

Harvest seeds in morning when dry. Rub dried seed heads between hands to release seeds. Winnow by pouring between bowls in light breeze to separate seeds from chaff..

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead