Growing Organic Lollo Rosso Lettuce Garden Seeds
- Latin Name: Lactuca sativa
- Variety: “Non-GMO Organic Heirloom”
- Other Names: Lolla Rossa, Lollo Red, Lollo Rossa, Lolla Rosso
- Days to Maturity: 55-60 days
- Hardiness Zones: 4-9
- Planting Depth: ¼-1/2"
- Plant Spacing: 4”
- Row Spacing: 12-15”
- Growth Habit: Upright
- Soil Preference: Loose, well-drained, compost and pH level 6.0-7.0
- Temp Preference: Cooler to warm
- Light Preference: Full sun to partial shade
- Pests/diseases: Caterpillars, earwigs and white mold
- Color: Wine-colored ruffled green leaves
- Flavor: Crisp and verdant
Sowing & Growing:
Directly sow Organic Lollo Rosso Lettuce seeds in April or once the soil is workable to at least 40℉. You can also directly sow Lollo Rosso Lettuce seeds in early fall around September. This looseleaf lettuce type prefers conditions ranging from 40-75℉, however; Lollo Rosso Italian Lettuce can also tolerate colder temperatures and adapt to heat better than other varieties. Plant lettuce 1/4-1/2" deep, 4” apart and with 12-15” in between rows. Germination will take 1-2 weeks and are fast-maturing annuals. Organic Lollo Rosso Lettuce, also called Lollo Red, Lolla Rossa or Lollo Rossa, prefer loose and well-drained soil with compost and a pH level 6.0-7.0. Lettuce in general, shouldn’t be overwatered. However, with Lollo Rosso Lettuce seeds, be sure to water 2-3” per week, as this heirloom lettuce variety shouldn’t dry out. Organic Lollo Rosso Lettuce grows non-GMO seeds that prefer full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. Since cold hardy plants’ flavor enhances with the cold, it’s generally recommended to directly sow non-GMO lettuce seeds and lay down some mulch. As their wine-colored ruffled green leaves develop their crisp and verdant flavor, Lollo Red grows as a diverse cool season crop that is one of the first veggies on any gardener’s list. Store your leafy-treats in the fridge for 1-2 weeks by covering your Lollo Rosso Lettuce heads in a wet paper towel and sealing in a plastic bag.
Harvesting:
Organic Lollo Rosso Lettuce plants will be ready to harvest around 55 days from the sowing date or once their ruffled leaves have reached 3-6” long. Be sure to pick the leaves before they’ve grown too large, as Lolla Rossa or Lollo Red Lettuce leaves are fast-maturing heirlooms. Harvesting lettuce too late in the season will result in bitter-tasting plants. Pick the outer leaves first, so the smaller green and wine-colored leaves in the center will continue to provide their “cut and come back again” growing method. This loose leaf lettuce variety is diverse and can also be harvested by digging up the entire plant or cutting them with gardening shears while leaving 1” of the stem behind.
Facts:
Lactuca sativa seeds come from Ancient Egypt as they extracted oil from lettuce seeds and consumed their leaves around 4,000 years ago. Non-GMO lettuce types such as Lollo Rosso, is a cold hardy leafy-treat that can adapt to cold temperatures and tolerate the heat better than other varieties!
Organic Lollo Rosso Lettuce Seeds Per Package:
- 1 oz - Approximately 16,000 Seeds
- 4 oz - Approximately 64,000 Seeds
- 1 lb - Approximately 256,000 Seeds
- 5 lbs - Approximately 1,280,000 Seeds