lettuce (cut and come again) 'Lollo Rossa'
lettuce (cut and come again) or Lactuca sativa 'Lollo Rossa'
A gorgeous lettuce with frizzy purple-tinged leaves which look fabulous in the plot and even better on the plate. It's a cut-and-come-again variety, so you can pick the outer leaves as you need them for salads and the heart will continue producing more, giving you a continuous harvest over several weeks.
How to care for lettuce Lollo Rossa:
Plant in fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter, keeping the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged to prevent bitterness. Choose a sunny or lightly shaded spot and protect young plants from late frosts with cloches or fleece. Sow or plant a little closer than traditional lettuces, spacing about 10-15cm (4-6in) apart.
Once the plants are established, harvest by trimming or pinching off the top few centimetres of growth, or by picking outer leaves as needed. This encourages new leaves to sprout from the base for repeated harvests. Water regularly in dry weather, and pick in the cool of the morning for crisp, tender leaves. Rotate crops each year to reduce disease build-up and watch for slugs and snails, especially in damp conditions.
Once the plants are established, harvest by trimming or pinching off the top few centimetres of growth, or by picking outer leaves as needed. This encourages new leaves to sprout from the base for repeated harvests. Water regularly in dry weather, and pick in the cool of the morning for crisp, tender leaves. Rotate crops each year to reduce disease build-up and watch for slugs and snails, especially in damp conditions.
Sowing instructions:
From February, sow into trays or modules in the greenhouse or on a windowsill.
From late March, sow direct where they are to grow in shallow drills. Protect from slugs and cover early and late sowings with a cloche. A late sowing made August in a coldframe or in the greenhouse borders will grow on right through winter.
From late March, sow direct where they are to grow in shallow drills. Protect from slugs and cover early and late sowings with a cloche. A late sowing made August in a coldframe or in the greenhouse borders will grow on right through winter.
Eventual height:
0.3m
Eventual spread:
0.3m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Frost tender
approx 550 seeds
£2.49
In stock
(shipped within 2-3 working days)
(shipped within 2-3 working days)
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