VegetableLettuce
Grand Rapids Lettuce
Grand Rapids Lettuce is a crisp, leafy green that earned its reputation for dependable harvests across a broad range of climates. Growing from zones 2 to 10, this annual produces large, ruffled leaves in just 50 to 55 days, making it one of the quickest lettuces to reach your table. The mounding growth habit keeps plants compact yet productive, reaching 5 to 10 inches tall with naturally sweet flavor and impressive resistance to tip burn, a common frustration for lettuce growers.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Growth Stats
10 in
Height
TypeSpreading
Spacing
8
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
2-10
Size
10in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Large, tender green leaves with a naturally sweet taste and excellent resistance to tip burn set Grand Rapids apart in the lettuce patch. This variety thrives in full sun or partial shade and moves from seed to harvest in as little as 50 days, so you can succession plant for continuous supply throughout the season. It handles the broad hardiness range of zones 2 through 10, making it reliable whether you're gardening in cool climates or warm ones.
Common Uses
Grand Rapids Lettuce shines in fresh salads where its tender leaves and mild sweetness can take center stage without heavy dressings. The large, ruffled leaves also work beautifully as wraps or bed lettuces for composed plates, holding up well to light handling and keeping their crisp texture even after harvest.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow Grand Rapids seeds directly in the garden, pressing them 1/2 inch deep into moist soil. Plant in early spring as soon as soil is workable, or in late summer for a fall crop. Seeds germinate quickly and seedlings emerge within days.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting Grand Rapids lettuce at 50 to 55 days after sowing, when the plant has reached full mounding size with large, tender leaves. You can pick individual outer leaves as needed while the plant continues to produce, or harvest the entire head by cutting at soil level. The leaves are ready when they're bright green and crisp to the touch.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Lactuca sativa
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Lactuca
Growth Habit
Spreading
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)