Dark Red Lollo Rossa is a stunning open-pollinated lettuce that brings theatrical color to any garden. Its heavily frilled leaves transition from vibrant green centers to deep burgundy edges, creating a striking visual presence on the plate and in the garden bed. Ready to harvest in just 45 days, this cool-season crop thrives across hardiness zones 2 through 13, making it accessible to gardeners almost everywhere. It germinates best between 60 and 70°F and grows most vigorously at 60 to 65°F, so timing your planting for spring or fall ensures the best results.
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2-13
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Moderate
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The contrast between its deep red-frilled edges and green centers makes this lettuce as beautiful as it is practical. Johnny's Selected Seeds notes the heavy frilling that defines the variety, creating substantial texture both visually and in the bowl. It's a frost-tolerant crop that can be planted with your earliest spring soil work, stretching your growing season in both directions. At just 45 days to harvest with 6-inch spacing, you can produce plenty of heads in a compact garden plot.
Dark Red Lollo Rossa is grown primarily as a salad green, where its ornamental frilled leaves and color contrast make it a favorite for fresh mixed greens and composed salad plates. The heavily frilled texture holds dressings well and adds visual interest that plain lettuces cannot match. Its cool-season preference makes it ideal for spring and fall harvests when lettuce flavor is at its peak.
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You can start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost. Germinate at temperatures between 60 and 70°F, keeping soil moist but not waterlogged. Transplant seedlings into the garden when they have 2 to 3 true leaves and soil can be worked.
Transplant seedlings outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring, or 6 to 8 weeks before your first fall frost. Space plants 6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. No hardening off is necessary since lettuce is naturally cold-hardy.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in early spring or late summer for fall harvest. Sow seeds shallowly and keep soil consistently moist until germination, which occurs best below 70°F. Thin seedlings to 6-inch spacing once they have developed true leaves.
Harvest Dark Red Lollo Rossa when heads are full and frilly, typically around day 45 from planting. You can harvest individual outer leaves once the plant is established, or cut the entire head just above soil level in the morning when leaves are crisp and full of moisture. The deeply frilled edges should feel tender and have good substance; avoid harvesting too early when the head is still small and underdeveloped.
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