Growing Lettuces

(updated 3/3/23)

General Information:

Zone 9B Florida: This is my documentary on the different varieties of lettuce that I am learning to grow in my garden in zone 9B of Florida. I learned there are four types of lettuces, but there are varieties for each type. The varieties fall into four types of lettuces; stem lettuce, bibb (butterhead) lettuce, loose leaf lettuce, and romaine lettuce. Most lettuce varieties are intended to be planted in the cooler season when the whether is cooler here in zone 9B of Florida. These varieties can not tolerate the hot summer heat to strive or grow well. Luckily, there are a few lettuce varieties that are labeled as heat tolerant, slow bolting, and can be possibly grown for all seasons.

Below is a listing of all the lettuce varieties I had tested, currently testing, and will test in my zone 9B garden in Florida.

Lettuce Varieties

L1. Summer 38 Celtuce (stem lettuce) -heat tolerant
L2. Spring Tower Celtuce (stem lettuce)
L3. Purple Tour Celtuce (stem lettuce)
L4. ShiXinWoSun Celtuce (stem lettuce)
L5. AA Choy aka Sword Leaf Lettuce (loose leaf)
L6. Bronze Mignonette Lettuce (bibb)
L7. Marvel of Four Seasons (bibb)
L8. Buttercrunch Butterhead lettuce (bibb)
L9. Okayama Japanese butterhead lettuce (bibb)
L10. Freckled Lettuce (bibb) – TBT
L11. Prizehead Lettuce (loose leaf)
L12. Red Velvet Lettuce (loose leaf)
L13. Speckled Lettuce (loose leaf)
L14. OutRedgeous Lettuce (loose leaf)
L15. Jericho Israeli Lettuce (romaine) – heat tolerant
L16. Parris Island Cos Lettuce (romaine)
L17. Cimmaron Lettuce (romaine) – heat tolerant
L18. Winter Density Lettuce (romaine)
L19. Rouge D’Hiver Red Romaine Lettuce (romaine)
L20. Little Gem Lettuce (romaine)

L1-L4. Celtuce varieties: Summer 38, Spring Tower, Purple Tower, and ShiXinWoSun

Celtuces are also known as Chinese asparagus, aparagus lettuce, stem lettuce, rau tiến vua (Vietnamese), yamakurage (Japanese). Leaves are tender for the first six weeks and then becomes mild as the plant focus on fattening up the stems. The fat celtuce lettuce stems are highly valued and sold in Asian markets as it can be used in stir fry. The stems are often peeled, shredded, dehydrated, and pickled for Japanese and Vietnamese celtuce salads to give a super crunchy taste. I have a separate documentary on “Growing Celtuces”. Link: TBD

L5. AA Choy (Swordleaf lettuce)

Sword Leaf lettuce is commonly known as Taiwanese AA Choy and it’s available at any Chinese or Southeast Asian markets. This is one of my favorite lettuce to eat with rice paper rolls (gỏi cuốn) and Vietnamese sizzling crepes (bánh xèo).

Type: loose leaf / stem lettuce
Source: Pan Asia Heirloom Etsy shop
Day 1: Sow AA Choi lettuce seeds (Nov. 2022)
Germination: high
Soil: Potting Mix #3 recipe
Light condition: full sun 6+Hours and part sun 4-6 hours
Spacing: 6 inches
Days to maturity: TBA
Frost tolerant: yes
Heat tolerant: TBA
Root system: 5-6 inches deep and 5-inches wide
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L6. Bronze Mignonette lettuce

Type: bibb
Source: tbt
Date tested and germination result for Bronze Mignonette lettuce seeds: 1/8/23 – 75% germination result
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Light: Full sun 6+ hours and part 4-6 hours
Watering: 3 times a week by sprinkler system
Spacing: 6 inches apart
Days to maturity: TBA
Root system: 4 inches deep
Frost tolerant: yes
Heat tolerant: no
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L7. Marvel of Four Seasons lettuce

Type: bibb
Source: https://www.botanicalinterests.com/product/Marvel-of-Four-Seasons-Butterhead-Lettuce-Seeds
Day 1: Sow Marvel of Four Seasons lettuce seeds 2/7/23
Germination rate: quick and high
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Light: morning shade, 4-6 hours sun
Watering: 3 times a day by sprinkler system
Spacing: TBA
Days to maturity: TBA
Root system: TBA
Frost tolerant: yes
Heat tolerant: yes
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L8. Buttercrunch Butterhead lettuce – tbt

Type: bibb
Source: Tomorrow Seeds Etsy shop
Day 1: (date seeds sown)
Germination rate: tbt
Light condition: full sun 6+ hours and part sun 4-6 hours
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Watering: 3 times a week with sprinkler system
Spacing: 6 inches part
Days to maturity: TBA
Root system: 2-3 inches deep
Frost tolerant: tbt
Heat tolerant: tbt
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L9. Okayama Japanese Butterhead lettuce

Type: bibb
Source: Pan Asia Heirloom Etsy shop
Day 1: 2/11/23
Germination rate: slow around day 10
Light condition: full sun 6+ hours and part sun 4-6 hours
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Watering: 3 times a week with sprinkler system
Spacing: 6 inches part
Days to maturity: TBA
Root system: 2-3 inches deep
Frost tolerant: tbt
Heat tolerant: tbt
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L10. Freckled Lettuce – to be tested

Type: bibb
Day 1: (date Freckled lettuce seeds sown)
Source: tbt
Germination rate: tbt
Light condition: full sun 6+ hours and part sun 4-6 hours
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Watering: 3 times a week with sprinkler system
Spacing:
Days to maturity: TBA
Root system: 2-3 inches deep
Frost tolerant: tbt
Heat tolerant: tbt
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L11. Prizehead lettuce

Type: loose leaf
Day 1: Sow Prizehead lettuce seeds
Source: Lowe’s Home Improvement store
Germination rate: fast and high within three days
light condition: full sun 6+ hours and part sun 4-6 hours
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Watering: 3 times a week with sprinkler system
Spacing: 5 inches part
Days to maturity: TBA
Root system: 2-3 inches deep
Frost tolerant: yes
Heat tolerant: TBA
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L12. Red Velvet Lettuce: currently testing

Type: loose leaf
Day1: tested Red Velvet lettuce seeds 2/8/23
Source: Pan Asia Heirloom Etsy shop
Germination rate: quick and high
Light condition: morning and evening shade, mid day sun, 4-5 hours sunlight
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Days to maturity: tba
Root system:
Frost tolerant: tba
Heat tolerant: tba
Visual growth progress:

L13. Speckled Lettuce: Currently testing

Type: loose leaf
Day 1: sow Speckled lettuce seeds 3/2/23
Source: Pan Asia Heirloom Etsy shop
Day #: germination rate TBA
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Light condition: morning shade, part sun (4-6 hours)
Watering: 3 times a week by sprinkler system
Days to maturity:
Frost tolerant: TBA
Heat tolerant: TBA
Root system:
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L14. OutRedGeous Lettuce – currently testing

Type: loose leaf
Day 1: sow OutRedGeous lettuce seeds 2/11/23
Source: Pan Asia Heirloom Etsy shop
Germination rate: very low and slow growth
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Light condition: morning shade, part sun (4-6 hours)
Watering: 3 times a week by sprinkler system
Days to maturity:
Frost tolerant: TBA
Heat tolerant: TBA
Root system: tba
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L15. Jericho Israeli Lettuce

Type: romaine
Day 1: Sow Jericho lettuce seeds 3/3/23
Source: Pan Asia Heirloom Etsy shop
Germination rate: tbt
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Light condition: morning shade, part sun (4-6 hours)
Watering: 3 times a week by sprinkler system
Days to maturity: tbt
Frost tolerant: yes
Heat tolerant: yes
Root system: tba
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L16. Parris Island Cos Lettuce

Type: romaine
Source: tbt
Day 1: to be tested
Germination rate: tbt
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Light condition: morning shade, part sun (4-6 hours)
Watering: 3 times a week by sprinkler system
Days to maturity: tbt
Frost tolerant: tbt
Heat tolerant: tbt
Root system: tbt
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L17. Cimmaron Lettuce

Type: romaine
Source: tbt
Day 1: to be tested
Germination rate: tbt
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Light condition: morning shade, part sun (4-6 hours)
Watering: 3 times a week by sprinkler system
Days to maturity: tbt
Frost tolerant: tbt
Heat tolerant: yes
Root system: tbt
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L18. Winter Density Lettuce

Type: romaine
Source: tbt
Day 1: to be tested
Germination rate: tbt
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Light condition: morning shade, part sun (4-6 hours)
Watering: 3 times a week by sprinkler system
Days to maturity: tbt
Frost tolerant: tbt
Heat tolerant: tbt
Root system: tbt
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L19. Rouge D’Hiver Red Romaine Lettuce

Type: romaine
Source: tbt
Day 1: to be tested
Germination rate: tbt
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Light condition: morning shade, part sun (4-6 hours)
Watering: 3 times a week by sprinkler system
Days to maturity: tbt
Frost tolerant: tbt
Heat tolerant: tbt
Root system: tbt
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L20. Little Gem Lettuce

Type: romaine
Source:
Day 1: to be tested
Germination rate: tbt
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Light condition: morning shade, part sun (4-6 hours)
Watering: 3 times a week by sprinkler system
Days to maturity: tbt
Frost tolerant: tbt
Heat tolerant: tbt
Root system: tbt
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

L21. Beijing Express Hybrid Wawacai is actually a pak choi (bok choy) that looks like a romaine lettuce that can be substituted as a romaine lettuce for all seasons. I got curious and am testing this just to find out how it taste compared to romaine letut

Type: pak choi/bok choy/ wanna-be-romaine
Source: Pan Asia Heirloom Etsy shop
Day 1: seed sown 3/2/23
Germination rate: tbt
Soil: Potting Mix #2 recipe
Light condition: morning shade, part sun (4-6 hours)
Watering: 3 times a week by sprinkler system
Days to maturity: tbt
Frost tolerant: tbt
Heat tolerant: tbt
Root system: tbt
Visual growth progress:

insert pictures

How to Collect Lettuce Seeds

I just rather buy a new packet of seed instead, but if you planned on collecting lettuce seeds, here is a great video from Jeff at The Ripe Tomato Farms explaining how and when to collect lettuce seeds: https://youtu.be/Z3cRlmIWxB4.
Bolting is when it’s start producing a stem in the center for its final flowering and seeding stage of life. Harvest all the lettuce but leave one or two plant to complete its flowering stage if you want to collect the seeds.
(insert photo of emerging flower stem)

Where to Buy Lettuce Seeds?

Pan Asia Heirloom Etsy shop – that’s where I purchased bulk seed packets to split up and sell in small portions for a lower price. It’s not my shop.
Tomorrow Seeds Etsy shop
Kitazawa Seed Company

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