Salanova Red Sweet Crisp Lettuce is an exclusive open-pollinated variety from Johnny's Selected Seeds that delivers exactly what its name promises: sweet, tender leaves with a satisfying crunch in a compact, quick-maturing head. Ready to harvest in just 55 days from transplants, this cool-season lettuce thrives in the 60, 65°F sweet spot where it develops its signature flavor and succulent texture. The variety's frost tolerance extends your growing season on both ends, while its compact growth habit makes it efficient in garden beds and containers alike.
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Moderate
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The real appeal here is simplicity paired with exceptional eating quality. You get a sweet, crunchy leaf that's earned its place as an exclusive Johnny's offering, grows to a harvestable size in under two months, and actually tolerates frost, so you're not racing against warming soil in spring or early fall cold snaps. At just 6 inches of spacing, you can tuck several heads into tight spots without sacrificing quality.
Salanova Red Sweet Crisp works beautifully in fresh salads where its crisp, succulent leaves are the main event, and the sweet flavor needs no heavy dressing to shine. The compact head size makes it convenient for smaller households or for harvesting individual leaves throughout the season rather than waiting for a massive head to mature.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seed indoors 4, 6 weeks before your target transplant date in soil kept at 60, 70°F. Johnny's recommends starting lettuce when you have your earliest worked soil available. Seed germination improves at temperatures below 70°F, so cool conditions are your friend. Pelleted seed produces approximately 16,000 plants per ounce, giving you a sense of scale for seed quantity.
Transplant seedlings outdoors when they have 2, 3 true leaves and soil has warmed enough to work. Space plants 6 inches apart with 12 inches between rows. Because this variety is frost-tolerant, you can plant earlier than heat-loving crops, making it an excellent choice for your first spring planting.
You can direct sow seed into prepared garden beds at the same time you can transplant seedlings. Keep soil consistently moist until germination, which occurs best below 70°F. Thin seedlings to 6-inch spacing once they have emerged.
Harvest when heads reach full size, approximately 55 days after transplanting. You can cut the entire head at the base with a sharp knife, or harvest outer leaves individually for a longer harvest window. Crisp, succulent leaves indicate peak readiness; harvest in the morning when leaves are fully hydrated for the best texture and flavor.
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