Lettuce Salad Bowl Red ( Lactuca sativa ) is an open pollinated, old lettuce variety that dates back to the 1950’s. This lettuce can be used as a loose leaf or left to grow and cut off from the stalk as a whole lettuce; either way they will grow back. This variety is quick growing and if harvested as a loose leaf regularly; will continue to produce for the entire season.
The leaves are tender, sweet and crispy, making a great addition to any salad. Often seen in commercially packaged lettuce mixes at the supermarket.
Other perks of this variety are that it is slow bolting; heat tolerant; shade tolerant; quite disease resistant and keeps it’s sweet taste, even through hotter weather; when some lettuce’s will become bitter.
Suitable for Cold to Tropical Climates.
Growth
The Lettuce Salad Bowl Red is an annual smaller growing lettuce; which grows to around 20 cm in both height and width. The leaves are a bronze-deep red with a green mixed through, in the cooler seasons or in afternoon shade the leaves are generally a deeper red. This lettuce grows in a rosette form and can be harvested as early 2 weeks as microgreens when around 7-8 cm’s tall; as a baby leaf at around 25 days; or as a full lettuce at approximately 45-65 days. Sow every 2 weeks for a continual harvest.
This variety prefers full sun, however in hotter climates or seasons, some afternoon sun will be appreciated. Water regularly and fertilise with a liquid organic fertiliser every two weeks with either a seaweed mixture or worm pee.
*We recommend growing ALL edible foods organically; it always tastes better – so your taste buds; body and family will thank you 🙂
FAMILY:
Asteraceae
CLIMATE:
Cold to Tropical.
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
8°C to 30°C / 46 to 86°F
SOIL TYPE:
Loose, well draining.
LOCATION:
Full Sun, but shaded in hot climates.
HEIGHT:
Up to 25 cm (10 inches)
WIDTH:
Up to 20 cm (8 inches)
pH:
6.0-6.8
GROWTH TYPE:
Annual.
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium.
POLLINATION:
Self-Pollinated
MATURITY:
40-65 days for full sized lettuce; around 25 days for young loose leaf leaves.
GERMINATION RATES:
75-90%
GERMINATION TIME:
7-14 days
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 800
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
No.
WEED POTENTIAL:
No.
EDIBLE:
Yes.
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge) up to 2 years.
FACTS ABOUT LETTUCE SALAD BOWL RED (Lactuca sativa)
Red lettuce is rich in many health benefiting nutrients including vitamin A & anti-oxidants.
Salad Bowl lettuces are quite happily grown in pots or containers; even indoors on a sunny windowsill. They can also make a great low growing border plant.
