Little Gem Butterhead Romaine Lettuce Seeds / Lactuca sativa ‘Little Gem’

Description

Little Gem lettuce is a miniature romaine-butterhead cross, combining the crisp crunch of romaine with the tender sweetness of butterhead in one perfectly sized package.

You can grow this as a cut-and-come-again lettuce, harvesting outer leaves as they mature, or let it form its signature compact, upright head for a single-serving salad.

Little Gem lettuce produces tightly wrapped, bright green leaves surrounding a pale yellow heart. It’s prized for its especially sweet, tender heart, thanks to its butterhead ancestors.

Little Gem lettuce performs beautifully in both spring and fall gardens, maturing quickly for an early harvest before winter frosts or summer heat.

It is frost-tolerant and, once acclimated to gradually cooling temperatures, can handle down to about 20°F. Light frosts need no protection, but cover plants with row cover or a cold frame during hard freezes below the mid-20s°F, especially for young seedlings.

Fall is a great time to grow Little Gem lettuce, since cooler weather brings sweeter, more tender heads. Light frosts in the low 30s°F won’t bother it, and mature plants can even handle occasional dips into the 20s°F with no extra care needed.

For Zone 7-10 growing areas, Little Gem will happily keep producing through the cooler months with little to no intervention. This makes fall and winter one of the easiest, most reliable seasons to grow this variety.

In the spring, this variety is more heat-tolerant and bolt-resistant than standard romaine, holding in good condition for a week or two past maturity before bolting.

Its small footprint makes it perfect for containers, raised beds, and small-space gardens.

Little Gem Lettuce Details

Growth Habit: compact upright head (butterhead-romaine cross)
Seed Count: Approx. 350 seeds
Seed Type: Heirloom Open-Pollinated, Non-GMO Seeds
Height: 6-8 inches
Spacing: 6-8 inches
Leaf Color: Bright green outer leaves, pale yellow heart
Days to Germination: 7-12 days
Days to Maturity: 30 days for baby greens, 55 days for full heads

Little Gem Lettuce Growing Instructions

For best results, sow when temperatures are consistently below 80°F or start indoors.

For more information, please visit our comprehensive sowing and growing instructions for Romaine lettuce here.

Terms of Sale

You will receive a minimum of 400mg of seed, approximately 350 seeds, shipped via USPS Ground Advantage. You’ll also receive detailed instructions for planting and care.