Rainier Lettuce is a frost-tolerant loose-leaf variety that reaches harvest in just 77 days, making it one of the quickest paths from seed to salad bowl. This cultivar thrives in cool seasons and handles unexpected frosts with aplomb, a trait that extends the growing window for gardeners in temperate regions. Plant it in full sun with moderate water and slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0, 7.0), spacing plants just 1 inch apart in rows 16 inches apart for efficient garden layouts.
Full Sun
Moderate
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Moderate
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Rainier's rapid maturity combined with genuine frost tolerance sets it apart from tender lettuce varieties that wilt at the first cold snap. You can direct sow every 2 to 3 weeks for continuous harvest throughout the cool season, and its loose-leaf structure means you're never committed to harvesting the entire head at once. The tight spacing requirement makes it remarkably efficient in small gardens or succession plantings.
As a loose-leaf lettuce, Rainier is harvested leaf by leaf for fresh salads and spring greens bowls. The individual-leaf harvest method means you can pick outer leaves throughout the season while the inner crown continues producing, extending your harvest window well beyond a single cutting.
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Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your anticipated transplant date, maintaining soil temperatures between 60 and 70°F for germination.
Transplant loose-leaf types when they've developed 2 to 3 true leaves, spacing them 10 to 14 inches apart. Harden off seedlings before moving them to their final outdoor location.
Direct sow seeds in cool season soil when temperatures are between 60 and 70°F. Use row covers to improve germination and prevent soil crusting. For extended harvest, plant every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the cool season.
Begin harvesting outer leaves once the plant has established enough foliage to spare. Pick individual leaves from the outside while allowing the inner leaves to continue growing, which prolongs production. You can also cut the entire plant about 1 inch above the soil to get a full harvest, though single-leaf harvesting extends the season. Leaves gradually become bitter as the plant bolts, so check your plants daily during warm spells and harvest ready leaves promptly. With succession planting, you'll have fresh leaves continuously rather than a single glut of mature heads.
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