VegetableLettuce
Little Gem Lettuce
Romaine Lettuce
Little Gem lettuce represents the perfect marriage of romaine's crisp structure and butterhead's tender sweetness, packed into an adorable 5-10 inch head. This compact cos variety matures in 50-75 days from transplants and thrives across zones 2-10, making it surprisingly versatile for such a specialized lettuce. Famous among chefs and home gardeners alike, it earned its reputation as one of the very best-tasting lettuces available. Baker Creek calls it superb, while True Leaf Market describes these as little treasures that offer mildly sweet flavor in a heat-tolerant package perfect for smaller gardens.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/lettuce-romaine-little-gem-seeds)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Preferred Temp55-75°F
Growth Stats
10 in
Height
PeriodAnnual
Spacing
8-10 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
10in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Low
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What sets Little Gem apart is its remarkable heat tolerance for a lettuce, allowing summer growing when other varieties bolt. The compact heads pack exceptional flavor into a space-saving form that fits beautifully in small gardens or containers. Professional chefs prize this variety not just for its taste but for its perfect size as individual serving portions and its versatility as both salad green and wrap substitute. The combination of romaine's structure with butterhead tenderness creates leaves that are substantial enough for wrapping yet delicate enough for elegant salads.
Common Uses
Little Gem excels in homemade Caesar salads where its elongated leaves provide the perfect vehicle for dressing, while smaller inner leaves add delicate sweetness to summer garden salads. The mature outer leaves transform into elegant, low-carb wraps that replace tortillas in healthy meal preparation. Beyond salads, these nutrient-dense leaves blend beautifully into smoothies or can be juiced for concentrated vitamins A and K, offering anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants that support vision health.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Not Applicable (Harvested Before Bolting)
First Harvest
55-60 Days
Last Harvest
Determinate
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the anticipated transplant date, sowing 1/4 inch deep at temperatures below 70°F for optimal germination, which typically occurs in 7-10 days.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings when they reach 3-4 inches tall, timing the move for when soil temperature reaches 40°F, typically 2-4 weeks before the last expected frost date.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep when soil temperature reaches 40°F in late winter or early spring, or plant in late summer 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost.
Harvesting
Harvest Little Gem at 50-75 days when heads reach 5-10 inches tall, either by cutting the entire plant 1 inch above soil level for potential regrowth or by removing individual outer leaves while allowing inner leaves to continue developing. Check daily during peak season as leaves become bitter once plants begin to bolt. For continuous harvest, pick outer leaves regularly while the center continues producing new growth, or cut whole heads when they feel firm and well-formed.
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
“Little Gem's journey to American gardens traces back through Christopher Columbus, who brought lettuce seeds to the New World in the 1490s, carrying forward a tradition that began with ancient Egyptians cultivating lettuce 3,000 years ago. This particular cos variety developed into what Baker Creek now preserves as an heirloom treasure, though some sources classify it as open-pollinated rather than strictly heirloom, suggesting ongoing selection and improvement by dedicated seed savers who recognized its exceptional qualities.”