VegetableLettuce
Red Sails Lettuce
Loose-leaf Lettuce
Red Sails Lettuce is an All-America Selections award winner that brings color and flavor to salads in just 40 to 49 days. This loose-leaf variety produces tender green leaves with distinctive crimson-red tips, creating a visually striking harvest that's as beautiful on the plate as it is in the garden. Hardy across zones 2 through 10, it tolerates frost and grows vigorously in cool to moderate conditions, making it reliable for spring and fall gardens. The mildly sweet flavor and delicate texture make it a standout for fresh eating.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/lettuce-leaf-red-sails-seeds)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Preferred Temp60-70°F
Growth Stats
10 in
Height
PeriodAnnual
Spacing
6-8 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
10in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Red Sails earns its AAS award through a combination of speed, cold tolerance, and genuine visual appeal. The red-tipped leaves add drama to any salad while remaining tender enough to harvest at just 40 days. Its ability to thrive in colder zones and bounce back after frost makes it one of the few lettuces that actually improves in flavor during temperature dips. The fact that you can harvest individual outer leaves while the center continues to grow means a single planting yields multiple pickings over weeks.
Common Uses
Red Sails Lettuce is grown primarily for fresh salads, where its tender leaves and mild sweetness shine. The distinctive red-tipped leaves make it especially valued for composed salads where visual presentation matters, such as mixed green platters or bistro-style presentations. The individual leaf-harvesting capability extends its use throughout the growing season, allowing gardeners to pick fresh greens continuously rather than cutting entire plants at once.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Not Applicable (Harvested Before Bolting)
First Harvest
45-55 Days
Last Harvest
Indeterminate
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your anticipated transplant date. Sow seeds at 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors once they have developed 2 to 3 true leaves. Space transplants 4 inches apart; thin loose-leaf types (which includes Red Sails) to 10 to 14 inches apart if direct seeding.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds 1/8 inch deep into prepared soil. Use row cover to improve germination and prevent soil crusting. Once 2 to 3 true leaves have formed, thin seedlings to appropriate spacing. For extended harvest throughout the season, sow every 2 to 3 weeks.
Harvesting
Red Sails reaches harvest maturity in 40 to 49 days from sowing. You can harvest individual leaves from the outside of the plant once they reach usable size, allowing the inner leaves to continue growing for repeated harvests. Alternatively, cut the entire plant about 1 inch above the soil for a full harvest, which often triggers a second flush of growth. Check plants daily during peak season; the leaves become increasingly bitter as the plant begins to bolt, so harvest regularly to enjoy the mildest flavor.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Soil pH Range
6 – 7
Scientific Classification
Lactuca L.
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Lactuca
History & Origin
“Red Sails Lettuce achieved All-America Selections recognition, a distinction that speaks to its broad adaptability and garden performance across diverse growing regions. While the specific breeding origins and developer are not documented in available sources, its award status reflects decades of horticultural refinement focused on combining cold hardiness, fast maturity, and reliable leaf production. This cultivar represents modern vegetable breeding at work: selected for traits that home and market gardeners actually need.”