19 Great Lettuce Varieties You’ll Want To Grow
Looking for a new lettuce crop to grow? Which varieties are a good fit for your farm? Scan the photo gallery for several fresh choices from leading seed breeders and distributors.
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Arroyo (Enza Zaden, Gowan Seed Company, Stokes Seeds)
Disease package: HR: Bl (1-8, 16-27, 29, 32, 34, 36 EU), Bl (1-8) US, Fol: (4) TBSV; IR: Rs
‘Arroyo’ is a tall, upright romaine ideal for spring harvest in warmer southern areas and summer production for cooler areas. Tight internodes and v-shape make this best for romaine hearts. Grows in the Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic. It matures in 65 days.
EnzaZaden.com, GowanSeed.com, US.StokeSeeds.com
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2 of 19
Calshot (Rijk Zwaan, Gowan Seed Company)
Disease package: IR: Bl (1-16, 19, 21 ,23)
The first and only predominately red-head color and the ability to make commercial market weight. Upright plant habit, easy to pack with minimal trimming lose. Bright, dark, glossy red leaves with contrasting dark-green ribs, make ‘Calshot’ an eye catcher! Grows in all areas, and matures in 65 days.
RijkZwaanUSA.com, GowanSeed.com
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3 of 19
Concentrus RZ (Rijk Zwaan)
Disease package: Bl: (5, 6, 7, 8, 9); T: TpB, Bolting
‘Concentrus RZ’ is promoted as a large romaine open-heart type. It has a high leaf count, lighter-green color, straight ribs with medium-to-light blister. Grows well on the Eastern Seaboard, Desert Southwest, Pacific Northwest, California Central Coast and Central Valley. It matures within 70 to 110 days.
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4 of 19
Ezpark (Enza Zaden, Osborne Quality Seeds)
Disease package: HR: DM (16-36 EU), Nr: (0); IR: LMV (1)
Fast maturing, bright green tango for year-round production. ‘Ezpark’s’ medium-to-large heads have a high yield of strongly serrated, thick textured leaves with crunchy ribs. This Eazyleaf® has excellent uniformity and field holding. Matures in 48 days.
EnzaZaden.com, OsborneSeed.com
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5 of 19
Freckles (Seeds by Design)
Tender green romaine leaves with a splash of red specks. It matures in 55 to 70 days.
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Hampton MTO Organic (Vitalis, Harris Seeds)
Disease package: HR: TBSV, BI, Nr; IR: LMV, Bolting
‘Hampton’ is a very dense, Eazyleaf® one-cut variety. It has shiny, dark-green, oak-shaped leaves, and a high leaf set. Ideal for hand cutting or mechanical harvest. Flexible for year-round production, and matures in 55 days.
USA.VitalisOrganic.com, HarrisSeeds.com
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7 of 19
Laredo (Stokes Seeds)
‘Laredo’ is a large romaine that is savoyed and very uniform. It performs in heat, great for sleeving. Grows well in the Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic. It matures in 65 days.
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8 of 19
Marciano MTO Organic (Vitalis, Harris Seeds)
Disease package: HR: BI, Nr, TBSV; IR: LMV, Bolting, T: TpB
A compact, red butterhead with smooth leaves, showcasing a deep burgundy color with fresh, bright-green, well-filled interiors. It features sweet tender leaves and short cores. Matures in 50 days.
USA.VitalisOrganic.com, HarrisSeeds.com
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9 of 19
Meridian (Sakata Seed America, Rupp Seeds)
Disease package: HR: Fol (1), Bolting
‘Meridian’ is a pioneer, first to market with Fol 1, and offers the best tolerance commercially available in the iceberg category. It has performed well in trials in the Midwest and Northeast.
SakataVegetables.com, RuppSeeds.com
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10 of 19
Mistergus RZ (Rijk Zwaan)
Disease package: HR: DM, TpB
New! 'Mistergus RZ' is a Salanova® green oakleaf type with brilliant, dark-glossy green leaves. Year-round variety good for processing and mechanical harvesting. Matures in 50 days.
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11 of 19
Multigreen 161 (BASF/ Nunhems USA)
Disease code: Nr: (0), Bl: (16-36 EU), LNSV
A medium-green multileaf combining high yield with uniform, 3D leaves. Exceptional performance in all California, Arizona, Nevada. Matures in 60 days.
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12 of 19
Oakleaf Red (Terra Organics)
Deep burgundy leaves, unappealing to slugs and snails, leaf lettuce. Matures in 50 to 68 days.
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13 of 19
Powerball (Bayer Vegetable Seeds)
Disease package: HR: Fol, DM, T: Bolting, TpB
‘Powerball’ maintains uniformity to harvest while retaining its appealing deep-green color. Short cores and strong bolting tolerance in extreme heat conditions. Grows well in the Desert Southwest.
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14 of 19
New Red Fire (Takii & Co., Ltd.)
Disease package: Bolting, HT: Heat, MT: Cold
‘New Red Fire’ is a red leaf variety that has excellent uniformity. It’s dark-red, has a medium-large head, and good flavor. Organic seeds are available and matures in 55 to 60 days.
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15 of 19
Rhone (Enza Zaden, Osborne Quality Seeds)
Disease package: HR: DM (16-33 EU), Nr: (0)
Uniquely spiky red tango with medium-fast speed and fantastic holding ability. 'Rhone’s' large heads have excellent uniformity and a high green leaf count with dark red margins. Better heat tolerance than 'Burgandy'. Pair with 'Ezpark Green Tango'. Eazyleaf® Matures in 50 days.
EnzaZaden.com, Osborneseed.com
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16 of 19
Somerset (Enza Zaden, Rupp Seeds),-Inc.-
Disease package: T: Bolting, TpB
A summer iceberg producing a flat, round head with smooth ribs; and great head protection.
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17 of 19
Starstruck Lettuce Mix (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
NEW! Formulated mix to strike the right balance of color, leaf shape, and growth rate. High crunch lettuce mix for baby leaf production. Widely adapted variety that matures in 38 days.
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18 of 19
Teton (Sakata Seed America)
Disease package: HR: BL (21, 24 EU)
'Teton' is a new romaine variety that displays large size and straight ribs. It has good potential for hearts, and has shown strong field tolerance to LNSV.
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Themes (BASF/ Nunhems USA)
Disease package: Nr: (0), Bl: (16-32, 34-36 EU)
A champion ‘Little Gem’ that exhibits a vibrant, emerald-green color. It has a high vigor and strong shelf life. Ideal for California and Arizona. Suitable for year round production, and matures in 60 days.
View all
Arroyo (Enza Zaden, Gowan Seed Company, Stokes Seeds)
Calshot (Rijk Zwaan, Gowan Seed Company)
Concentrus RZ (Rijk Zwaan)
Ezpark (Enza Zaden, Osborne Quality Seeds)
Freckles (Seeds by Design)
Hampton MTO Organic (Vitalis, Harris Seeds)
Laredo (Stokes Seeds)
Marciano MTO Organic (Vitalis, Harris Seeds)
Meridian (Sakata Seed America, Rupp Seeds)
Mistergus RZ (Rijk Zwaan)
Multigreen 161 (BASF/ Nunhems USA)
Oakleaf Red (Terra Organics)
Powerball (Bayer Vegetable Seeds)
New Red Fire (Takii & Co., Ltd.)
Rhone (Enza Zaden, Osborne Quality Seeds)
Somerset (Enza Zaden, Rupp Seeds),-Inc.-
Starstruck Lettuce Mix (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
Teton (Sakata Seed America)
Themes (BASF/ Nunhems USA)
Disease Abbreviation Key
Bl — Downy mildew (Bremia lactucae)
Bolting — Bolting
DM — Downy mildew, water mold, (Bremia lactucae)
Fol — Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae)
HR — High resistance
HT — High tolerance
IR — Intermediate resistance
LMV — Lettuce mosaic
LNSV — Lettuce necrotic stunt virus
MT — Moderate tolerance
Nr — Lettuce Leaf Aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri)
Pb — Lettuce root aphid (Pemphigus bursarius)
Rs — Corky root, caused by bacterium, (Rhizomonas suberifaciens)
T — Tolerance
TBSV — Tomato bushy stunt virus
TpB — Tipburn Physiological Disorder
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Carol Miller is Editor of American Vegetable Grower. See all author stories here.