Lettuce
Loose-leaf lettuce
Loose-leaf lettuce: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Loose-leaf lettuce belongs to the species Lactuca sativa in the daisy family, Asteraceae. The name describes a type grown for its open leaves rather than one particular cultivar. If you want salad leaves that remain individually accessible, its loose rosette distinguishes it from lettuces that form a dense head. The name alone therefore does not tell you the colour, shape or eventual size of its foliage.Depending on the cultivar, leaves may be pale green, deeper green, reddish or purple. Their edges can be wavy, frilly or divided into lobes that resemble an oak leaf. Some lettuces look soft and airy, while others have thicker, crisper leaves. These differences bring texture to a mixed salad and also let you choose foliage with an ornamental role in the vegetable garden.The plant initially forms a rosette close to the ground. Its spread depends on the cultivar and stage of development: lettuce used for…
