Reine de Glaces is a historic French crisphead lettuce that earned its "Ice Queen" name not for delicate constitution, but for its ability to thrive where other lettuces falter. This 1800s heirloom forms dense, beautifully textured heads wrapped in striking dark green outer leaves with jagged, ruffled edges that make it as beautiful on the plate as in the garden. Reaching maturity in just 60 days and hardy across zones 3 to 11, it delivers far greater complexity than standard iceberg lettuce while remaining surprisingly heat-tolerant for a crisphead variety. Plant it in full sun with 12 inches of space between plants, and you'll harvest a head that stands 7 inches tall and 12 inches wide.
Full Sun
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3-11
7in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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The true distinction of Reine de Glaces lies in its rare combination of heat resilience and superior flavor depth. A widely regarded crisphead champion, it defies the typical brittleness of its class by forming heads that are simultaneously robust and intricately textured. The dark green, ruffled outer leaves signal the complexity waiting inside, offering gardeners a taste experience far removed from the bland crunch of commercial icebergs.
As an edible crisphead lettuce, Reine de Glaces excels in salads where its dense, textured leaves and superior flavor can shine. The complex taste profile and striking appearance make it equally suited to composed plates, crudités, and fresh preparations where visual presence matters alongside taste.
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Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost at soil temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Transplant seedlings outdoors once they develop true leaves and soil temperatures have warmed to at least 50 degrees.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days before moving them to the garden. Transplant when soil is cool and moist, ideally in early spring or late summer to avoid summer heat stress. Space transplants 12 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart.
Direct sow seeds in the garden 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost or in late summer for fall harvest. Sow seeds shallowly and keep soil consistently moist until germination.
Harvest Reine de Glaces when the head feels firm and dense, typically around 60 days from seeding or transplanting. Pick heads in the morning when they're crisp with moisture. Cut the entire head at soil level using a sharp knife, or harvest outer leaves individually for longer production if you prefer. The dense structure means the head will retain quality longer than loose-leaf varieties once harvested.
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“Reine de Glaces journeyed from late 1800s French gardens into the modern era as a treasured heirloom. Its French name translates to "Ice Queen," a reference steeped in the refinement of Victorian-era European vegetable cultivation rather than fragility. This variety survived because gardeners recognized its superiority: while other crispheads succumbed to summer heat or demanded coddling, Reine de Glaces conquered the challenges of warm-season growing, proving its worth across generations and eventually earning recognition as among the finest crisphead lettuces ever developed.”