Green Star is an open-pollinated green leaf lettuce from Johnny's Selected Seeds, prized for its exceptional visual appeal in the garden and on the plate. From transplants, it reaches harvest maturity in just 53 days, making it a reliable choice for cool-season gardening. This compact grower thrives in the 60, 65°F sweet spot that lettuce loves, germinates reliably below 70°F, and tolerates light frosts, so you can sow it with your earliest spring sowings and again in late summer for fall harvests. Its resistance to Downy Mildew adds practical resilience to its ornamental charm.
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Green Star stands out as Johnny's most visually striking green leaf variety, combining the practical speed of a 53-day harvest with genuine aesthetic appeal in both garden beds and salad bowls. The compact growth habit makes it efficient to space, requiring just 6 inches between plants and 12 inches between rows, so you can pack more productivity into smaller spaces. Its frost tolerance opens up extended growing windows in spring and fall when other lettuces bolt or struggle, and the open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seed year after year.
Green Star is grown as a salad green, harvested for its tender leaves to be eaten fresh. The green leaf structure suggests both whole-head harvesting at maturity and the option to pick outer leaves continuously throughout the season, depending on your harvest style.
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Start seeds indoors in a cool environment, keeping temperatures between 60, 70°F (16, 21°C) for reliable germination. Johnny's reports an average plant density of 16,000 plants per ounce of pelleted seed. Sow seeds on moist soil and keep them in a cool location, as lettuce germinates best below 70°F; temperatures above this threshold can trigger dormancy. Plan to transplant seedlings when they develop their first true leaves, typically 3, 4 weeks before your intended outdoor planting date.
Transplant seedlings outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring, taking advantage of Green Star's frost tolerance. Harden off plants over 7, 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Space transplants 6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. Soil temperature should ideally be 60, 70°F (16, 21°C), though this cold-hardy variety can tolerate cooler conditions.
Direct sow seeds outdoors beginning in early spring as soon as soil is workable. Sow every 2, 3 weeks for a continuous supply throughout the season. Thin seedlings to 6 inches apart once they develop their first true leaves.
Green Star reaches harvest maturity 53 days after transplanting. Harvest when leaves are tender and the plant has developed good size, typically when the head feels full and leaves are vibrant green. You can cut the entire head at soil level or pick individual outer leaves from the plant to encourage continued leaf production. Cool and humid conditions in early morning yield the crispest leaves.
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