VegetableLettuce
Freckles Lettuce
Romaine Lettuce
Freckles Lettuce is a romaine unlike any other, with bright green leaves dramatically splattered with burgundy spots that look hand-painted. Ready to harvest in 50 to 55 days, this non-GMO variety grows as a compact mound 5 to 10 inches tall and thrives across hardiness zones 2 to 10. It combines crisp texture with mildly sweet flavor, plus impressive heat and bolt resistance that keeps it producing even when conditions turn warm. Whether you're harvesting baby leaves at 26 days or waiting for full maturity, Freckles delivers both visual drama and reliable performance in the garden.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
10 in
Height
—
Width
8 in
Spacing
50–55
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual, Biennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
2-10
Size
10in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual, Biennial
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The splatter-painted burgundy spots on green leaves make Freckles instantly recognizable and conversation-starting on any plate. It's genuinely heat tolerant and bolt resistant, two qualities that separate it from many lettuces that quickly turn bitter or flower when summer heat arrives. At 50 to 55 days to maturity, you'll have restaurant-quality greens in roughly eight weeks, and the mildly sweet flavor means it needs nothing but good olive oil and salt to shine.
Common Uses
Freckles is at home in a Caesar salad, where its crisp texture and mildly sweet flavor shine alongside traditional dressings, and its striking spotted appearance turns the salad itself into an edible centerpiece. The catalog notes suggest using it as a market seller, hinting at its appeal to farmers and restaurants seeking visually distinctive greens that command attention at the stand or on the plate.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Spring
First Harvest
Mid-spring
Last Harvest
Early Summer
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly into the garden when soil temperature reaches 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep and thin seedlings to 10 inches apart once they develop true leaves.
Harvesting
You can begin harvesting baby leaves at 26 days if you prefer tender young greens, or wait 50 to 55 days for fully mature heads. Harvest by cutting the entire head at the base or by picking outer leaves as needed, working from the bottom up. The mildly sweet flavor and crisp texture are your signal that the lettuce is at peak readiness.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
EdibleNative Species
Scientific Classification
Lactuca ×morssii B.L. Rob. (pro sp.)
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Lactuca
Duration
Annual, Biennial
Growth Habit
Spreading
Native Status
L48 (N)