Lettuce Red Leaf Seeds

About Lettuce Red Leaf Seeds

Red leaf lettuce — loose red-green leaves, forms no head; a cut-and-come-again salad crop.

• Botanical name: Lactuca sativa
• Care level: Easy
• Expected germination time: 5-10 days at 15-20C under suitable conditions*

How to Grow

1. Fill a seedling tray or small pot with a fine, clean, well-draining seed-starting mix.
2. Sow at the right depth — 0.5 cm — press in lightly, do not sow deep.
3. Water gently with a spray bottle so the seeds are not displaced. Keep the medium moist, not waterlogged.
4. Place the tray where it gets the right light for this plant (partial sun). Protect young seedlings from harsh afternoon sun.
5. Under suitable conditions, sprouts usually appear in 5-10 days at 15-20C.

Light, water, soil and feeding

• Light: Partial sun
• Water: Continuous light moisture — lettuce does not tolerate drought. Light daily watering.
• Soil: Loose, compost-rich, moisture-retentive mix; pH 6.0-7.0
• Temperature: 12–22°C. Bitter and bolting above 25°C.
• Fertiliser: A light nitrogen feed every 15 days.

Sowing season in India

October–January in North India. Not in summer. Exact timing depends on your local temperature and conditions.

Common problems

Bolting and bitterness in heat. Aphids under the leaves. Rot from overwatering.

*Germination time is an expected range under suitable temperature, moisture, sowing depth and storage conditions. Natural germination cannot be guaranteed.