VegetableLettuce
Arianna Lettuce
Arianna is a French lettuce variety that grows quickly from seed to table in just 30 to 39 days, making it one of the fastest lettuces you can grow. The plants reach 5 to 10 inches tall with attractive, large foliage and open heads filled with thick, mint-green leaves that deliver a satisfying crunch with a subtle nutty flavor. Cold-hardy across zones 2 through 10, this variety handles stress remarkably well and resists both bolting and tipburn, two problems that plague many lettuce growers.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Growth Stats
10 in
Height
Spacing
8
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
2-10
Size
10in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Arianna's thick, crinkled mint-green leaves snap with a crispy texture and nutty sweetness that distinguishes it from the standard lettuces found in most gardens. The open head structure and large foliage make it as visually striking as it is productive, while its proven resistance to bolting and tipburn means you can harvest reliably even when conditions aren't perfect. This French heirloom matures in under 40 days without sacrificing flavor or texture, rewarding patient gardeners with leaves ready to eat fresh straight from the garden.
Common Uses
Arianna works beautifully in fresh salads where its substantial leaves and crunchy texture stand up to heartier dressings without wilting. The thick foliage makes individual leaves ideal for wrapping or as a base for composed salads, and the nutty flavor adds depth to simple green salads without overpowering other ingredients.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors once they've developed two true leaves and soil temperatures have warmed to at least 40°F. Space plants 8 inches apart in rows, and harden off seedlings gradually over a week by exposing them to increasing amounts of outdoor light and air movement before final planting.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring, or in mid to late summer for fall harvest. Arianna germinates reliably in cool soil and will mature within 30 to 39 days from sowing.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting outer leaves once the plant reaches 4 to 6 inches tall, allowing the center to continue growing for weeks of repeated harvests. For a whole-head harvest, cut the entire plant at soil level when the head is 5 to 10 inches tall and fully formed, typically 30 to 39 days after sowing. Morning harvest, when leaves are crisp and full of moisture, yields the crunchiest, most flavorful leaves.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Lactuca sativa
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Lactuca
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Arianna traces its roots to French horticulture, where careful selection over generations created this distinctive variety with its characteristic large foliage and tall, open heads. The variety represents the French approach to lettuce breeding, prioritizing robust growth and reliable harvests in diverse growing conditions.”