Loose-leaf Lettuce
Sea of Red Lettuce is a loose-leaf variety that reaches harvest in just 40 days, making it one of the quickest ways to bring color and tenderness to your garden. This cultivar thrives in full sun and produces the open, loose heads that make leaf lettuce so satisfying to harvest, you can cut what you need and let the plant keep growing. Sow the seeds at 1/4 inch depth in mild weather with consistent moisture, and you'll have harvestable leaves in just over a month.
Full Sun
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Annual, Biennial
Moderate
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What sets Sea of Red apart is its adaptability to season extension. While it loves cool spring and fall weather, you can push it into hot months by sowing in light shade or draping loosely woven shade cloth over the bed, a simple trick that dramatically extends your harvest window. The loose-head growth habit means you're not waiting for a tight head to form; instead, you shear off the tender outer leaves as needed, leaving the plant to produce more. Young seedlings do attract birds, but a bit of protection during those vulnerable early weeks pays off with vigorous, thriving plants.
Sea of Red Lettuce is primarily used fresh in salads, where its tender leaves and quick growth make it ideal for continuous harvesting. The loose-leaf form means you can cut portions as needed rather than harvesting the entire head, making it practical for small households or anyone who likes a steady supply of fresh greens throughout the season.
Direct sow Sea of Red Lettuce in your garden bed or containers. Sow in mild weather for best results, spacing seeds or thinning seedlings appropriately. For season extension into warmer months, sow in light shade or create a loosely woven shade cloth canopy over the bed.
Wait until the plants form open, loose heads and reach about 6 inches tall, this typically takes around 40 days from sowing. Rather than harvesting the entire plant, use scissors to shear off a patch of leaves about 1 to 2 inches above the soil level. This cutting technique encourages the plant to continue producing tender new leaves, giving you multiple harvests from a single planting.
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