Loose-Leaf Lettuce Varieties

Varieties

• Choose from a handful of main types of loose-leaf lettuce such as romaine, leaf (loose-leaf), butterhead, stem and cos. Stem is also referred to as asparagus lettuce. All of these types of loose-leaf lettuce produce leaves that fan out rather than other varieties of lettuce that have tightly compacted heads. Romaine and cos produce similar looking heads that have an elongated upright appearance. Most types have a crisp, hearty flavor, but butterhead has a slightly sweet taste with smaller, more delicate leaves.

  Each type of loose-leaf lettuce produces a few distinct varieties. For instance, a few varieties of leaf lettuce include grand rapids, red fire, oak leaf and ruby. Grand rapids and oak leaf have loose green heads with curly edges. Ruby has dark red leaves, and red fire has ruffles with red edges. Cimmaron is a type of cos loose-leaf lettuce with dark red leaves.

Soil Preparation

• All types of loose-leaf lettuce need healthy soil to grow properly. Choose a sunny spot within your garden to plant rows of lettuce. Till the ground in this area with a garden tiller to loosen up the soil and remove large rocks, trash or plastic that's buried in the ground. You can then add 3 or more inches of compost to the soil by spreading it on the top layer. Clemson State University Extension says lettuce grows well in soil with a pH between 5.8 and 6.5.

Planting Times and Care

• Loose-leaf lettuce is a cool weather vegetable that does best when the average daily temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension. Plant loose-leaf lettuce in the early spring or late summer, depending on where you live. Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inches deep in rows that are about 12 inches apart. All types of lettuce need ample amounts of moisture to grow properly. Water your crops with 1 or more inches of water in the early morning, so the sun doesn't evaporate the moisture. Skip watering, if there is enough rainfall to nourish your lettuce.

Harvesting

• Harvesting times vary between 50 and 70 days after planting, depending on the variety of loose-leaf lettuce and how fast it matures. The quality of the soil can help determine whether crops are successful or not. Butterhead has smaller, loose heads than other varieties, but romaine and other types of loose-leaf can become very large and full. The lettuce is ready when the leaves have a healthy green or red color. The tips become frayed and burned if you wait too long to harvest loose-leaf lettuce.