29 of the best lettuce varieties for your garden ( Part -2 )

Kristina Hicks-Hamblin
July 31, 2022

12. Cimarron: With pale green hearts and burgundy outer leaves, ‘Cimmaron’ is an heirloom variety that dates back to the 1700s. Also known as ‘Red Romaine,’ it has a mild, sweet flavor and crunchy texture.

Maturing in just 60 days with 10- to 12-inch-long leaves, this variety looks as good in the garden as it does on the plate! Bolt- and heat-resistant, ‘Cimarron’ is also lightly frost tolerant, and can be harvested early for baby leaves. Some sources suggest that this variety has been cultivated in the US since the 1700s, but the ‘Cimarron’ we know today was actually brought to market in 1991 by Dorsing Seeds in Oregon.

13. EZ Serve: Easy to grow and “EZ” to serve, this green variety was introduced by Burpee in 2008. It matures in 65 days, with 8- to 10-inch densely-packed leaves. Quick to prepare, simply snap them off at the base of the stem, and they’re plate-ready (after a quick rinse, of course). ‘EZ Serve’ can be grown in full sun or partial shade, and the crunchy stems and crisp leaves have a mild flavor.

14. Forellenschluss: This heirloom variety hails from Austria, and its may be translated from German to English as “speckled like a trout.” This unusual cultivar has long, bright green leaves with wine-red spots and is also known as ‘Freckles’ or ‘Trout Back.’

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Maturing in 50-70 days, this heat- and bolt-resistant variety can be grown in full sun or partial shade. The buttery, tender leaves have a mild, almost sweet flavor and grow to a mature height of 8-12 inches. You can harvest them early if you’re a fan of baby greens.

15. Little Caesar: ‘Little Caesar’ has delicate green outer leaves with a light golden center. Smaller than some of the other romaine lettuces, each mature head is the perfect size to make a Caesar salad for two people. This variety prefers cooler weather, and is not heat tolerant. Growing to a mature height of 8-12 inches in 70 days, the leaves have a sweet flavor.

16. Little Gem: With its sweet, nutty flavor and diminutive size, ‘Little Gem’ is the perfect variety for the smaller garden. This heirloom grows up to 6 inches tall, and takes only 50 days to mature – or 30 days, if you harvest baby greens.

Described in the UK as a “semi-cos,” this variety resembles a small butterhead lettuce, but there is some disagreement among gardeners about how to classify it. However it is officially classified, it is like a cross between a butterhead lettuce and a romaine. ‘Little Gem’ has soft outer leaves and a tight, dense heart. Crisp and flavorful, ‘Little Gem’ grows happily in full sun or partial shade, and prefers cool weather.

17. Parris Island: Named after Parris Island, located off the coast of South Carolina, this hybrid cultivar has a pale green heart surrounded by dark green, upright outer leaves. Introduced by the Ferry-Morse Seed Company in 1951, ‘Parris Island’ is a cross between the imaginatively named ‘PI120965’ and ‘Dark Green Cos,’ and was developed by the Agricultural Experiment Station at Clemson College.

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Noted for its resistance to tip burn, ‘Parris Island’ is bolt resistant and prefers a full sun location.You can harvest mature 12-inch leaves in 65-70 days, or harvest early for baby greens. The delicate, crisp leaves have a sweet and mild flavor.

18. Paris White: ‘Paris White’ is a French heirloom variety brought to the US by Thomas Jefferson, and grown at his garden at Monticello. This slow-growing variety matures in 75-85 days. The 10-inch leaves have a crisp texture and sweet flavor. Emerald green outer leaves enclose a pale green heart. This variety thrives in a full sun or part shade location, and can be harvested early for tender baby greens.

19. Vivian: ‘Vivian’ is the largest of all the romaine lettuces I’ve come across. With tightly bunched 12 to 16-inch leaves and a 6-inch-wide head, you’ll be able to feef Caesar’s army with this variety.

The giant leaves mature in 70 days, although you can harvest early for smaller greens.
This bolt-resistant variety prefers cool weather and will tolerate a light frost. The wide leaves have a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a delicate texture.

Loose Leaf: Influenced by the many years that I spent living in France, when I eat salad as a side dish, I usually want it to be fairly simple – just lettuce with some oil and vinegar, that’s it. Loose leaf lettuces are the perfect choice for no-fuss side dish salads such as these. Loose leaf cultivars generally have a mild, sweet flavor, and a texture that is both tender and toothsome – so these fresh greens may be enjoyed without a lot of adornment.

Varieties of this type of lettuce come in shades of yellow, green, red, bronze, and burgundy. Their large, broad leaves are sometimes flat with frilled edges, and sometimes extremely savoyed, or frilly, as is the case with the ‘Lollo Rosso’ cultivar. Loose leaf types tend to be slow to bolt and heat tolerant, lasting longer into the summer than heading lettuces. The leaves are easy to cut and harvest as needed.

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20. Black Seeded Simpson: With slightly ruffled, bright green leaves, this heirloom cultivar was first introduced to the US by Peter Henderson and Company in the 1870s.

Fast-growing, ‘Black Seeded Simpson’ matures in just 40-50 days, although you can start harvesting even earlier for baby greens. Its abundant leaves have a crisp, juicy texture, and sweet, mild flavor. This variety is moderately heat resistant, and will tolerate a light frost, making it a versatile addition to your garden.

21. Deer Tongue: ‘Deer Tongue,’ one of my favorite cultivars, is an heirloom variety with arrowhead-shaped leaves that are delicate and delicious. The leaves grow upwards and form a rosette shape around a central mid-rib. The young, tender outer leaves are milder in flavor than the mature inner ones.

Also known as ‘Matchless,’ this heirloom variety is heat resistant, slow to bolt, and will mature in just 46 days. It was first officially documented in 1885 by the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, and is thought to have been brought to the US by English settlers in the mid-18th century.

22. Grand Rapids: A vigorous grower, ‘Grand Rapids’ has bright green, crinkled leaves with frilly edges. Maturing in just 50 days, you can harvest young leaves as early as 30 days after germination.

With a crisp, juicy texture, and a mild, slightly sweet flavor, this early-maturing variety prefers cool weather conditions, although it is somewhat heat tolerant, and slow to bolt.
This heirloom variety was grown in the late 1800s by Eugene Davis, a farmer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who propagated it in a greenhouse. He later became known as the “father of the forcing lettuce business.”

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23. Green Ice: With its glossy green, frilly leaves, ‘Green Ice’ has the crunch of a crisphead with the ruffled look of a loose-leaf. Maturing in just 45 days, this variety is heat resistant and slow to bolt. The 12-inch leaves have a crisp, succulent texture and deliciously sweet flavor. First introduced by W. Atlee Burpee and Company in 1973, this variety is a cross between ‘Fordhook’ and ‘Grand Rapids.’ ‘Green Ice’ is a vigorous grower, and will provide multiple harvests of crunchy greens.

24. Lollo Rosso: This heirloom Italian variety has frilly, wavy, ruffled leaves. Light green stems give way to deep burgundy edges. With a nutty, mildly bitter flavor, ‘Lollo Rosso’ matures in 55-60 days with 6- to 8-inch loose-leaf heads. You can start harvesting baby leaves after just 30 days. A winner of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, ‘Lollo Rosso’ is slow to bolt, but prefers cool temperatures. You may also see this variety called ‘Lolla Rosso.’

25. Prizehead: In spite of its name, ‘Prizehead’ is a loose leaf variety, with upright ruffled leaves that are pale green with dark burgundy edges. First brought to the market by W. A. Burpee and Company in 1881, this slow-to-bolt variety matures in 40-50 days.
With a crunchy texture and sweet flavor, ‘Prizehead’ will add color to your garden and your plate.

26. Red Sails: With large, crumpled leaves that are green at the base and give way to deep red edges, ‘Red Sails’ has a soft texture, and a sweet, mild flavor. An All-America Selections Winner in the edible vegetable category in 1985, this easy-to-grow variety matures in just 45 days. The large leaves grow upright to 10 inches tall, or they can be harvested early for baby greens. Bolt resistant, ‘Red Sails’ will tolerate a light frost.

27. Ruby: One of the most intensely colored lettuce cultivars available, ‘Ruby’ is an heirloom variety with a deep burgundy color and ruffled leaves. It reaches maturity and is ready to harvest in 40-50 days.

Slow to bolt, this variety is heat tolerant and will retain its color even in hot weather. Introduced to the market in 1957 by the USDA in Beltsville, Maryland, ‘Ruby’ was an All-America Selections Winner in the edible vegetable category in 1958.

Oak Leaf: A distinct type of loose leaf lettuce, oak leaf has a subtle flavor similar to regular loose leaf, but with smaller, deeply lobed leaves. These can easily be turned into a salad without chopping or tearing, and they have a delicate, tender texture.

I like to use oak leaf lettuce as a neutral backdrop where the toppings are going to steal the show, such as in this recipe from Foodal for a salad loaded with berries and walnuts, finished with a cayenne honey vinaigrette. Like other loose leaf types, oak leaf lettuces tend to be heat tolerant and bolt resistant. The leaves are easy to cut and harvest as needed. Frequently found in shades of green or red, there are also bronze-colored cultivars.

28. Bronze Guard: ‘Bronze Guard’ is an oak leaf variety that will give you a slightly bitter but flavorful and juicy harvest. It comes to maturity in 70 days, however you can pick younger leaves after 50 days. Light green with bronze edging, this heirloom variety is heat tolerant and will provide a bountiful harvest to add texture and color to your salads.

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29. Oakleaf: Introduced in 1771 by the French seed company Vilmorin-Andrieux, ‘Oakleaf’ has green, lobed leaves with a delicate, tender texture and sweet, mild flavor.Maturing in just 40 days, ‘Oakleaf’ is cold tolerant and heat resistant, providing a bountiful harvest throughout the growing season.

Greens to Envy: With so many textures, flavors, and colors to choose from, lettuce makes a wonderful addition to your kitchen garden that will provide you with bountiful harvests of nutritious greens. Which of these leafy greens are you ready to plant in your garden – or add to your next salad? Let us know in the comments.

This article is taken from gardenerspath.com