50+ Organic Darkness Looseleaf Lettuce Seeds- Non GMO- Lactuca Sativa--A120

50+ Organic Darkness Looseleaf Lettuce Seeds- Non GMO- Lactuca Sativa--A120

The incredibly dense, frilly leaves are green with deep, deep red edges. The stiff frills help to separate other leaves in salads as well as adding a lovely red colour. This variety should do well in low light conditions. Its small leaves are perfect for garnishes. Add contrast to your lettuce bed with this tasty and remarkable lettuce. For ultimate economy, try planting one seed in each cell of a 72-cell Plug Insert. Once the seedlings are ready for transplant, you can use a short piece of 1/4" dowel (or even a pencil) to pop each lettuce out of the tray. Darkness looseleaf lettuce seeds are a Lolla Rossa type. Looseleaf Dense frilly leaves with deep red edges Does well in low light conditions

Open pollinated seeds Matures in 30 days

Season & Zone Season: Cool season

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Zone: 4-12

Timing Lettuce grows best in cool weather in the spring and fall. Sow in April every 2-3 weeks for a continual harvest. Using a cloche, cold frame, or greenhouse over mid-late August plantings can extend the harvest period right into winter.

Optimal soil temperature for germination: 10-22°C (50-72°F).

Seeds should sprout in 7-15 days, depending on conditions. Seeds don’t sprout easily when the soil temperature is over 22°C (72°F) in summer. Get around this by sprouting them indoors in a cool area, or pre-sprout by sprinkling seeds on a damp paper towel and placing it in a plastic bag in the fridge for a few days. In hot weather lettuce goes to seed rapidly, so have new plantings ready to go.

Starting: Direct sow or start indoors and transplant. Sow seeds 5mm (¼”) deep, or on the surface of the soil where the soil can be kept evenly moist.. Space or thin heading lettuce to 30cm (12″) apart. Space or thin looseleaf varieties to 20-25cm (8-10″) apart. Space rows for all types 45-90cm (18-36″) apart. Babyleaf lettuce can be planted quite densely, as it is harvested at an immature size. Sowing babyleaf lettuce seeds closely together in narrow rows makes harvesting simpler. Note on Pelleted Seeds: A number of our lettuce seeds are pelleted for machine planting. The clay ball that covers each seed makes them easier to handle and easier to see when planted. While most lettuce seeds need to be barely covered (or sown on the surface of the soil), 

Growing Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. Aim for a soil with ample drainage and lots of organic matter. Add compost and lime at least 3 weeks prior to planting. 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer per 3m (10′) of row will give adequate nutrition. Seedlings should be hardened off by reducing water and putting the plants outdoors 2 or 3 days before transplanting. This will help to prevent transplant shock and premature bolting. Regular watering is essential to prevent leaves from getting bitter. Most varieties will be ready for harvesting as baby leaves in half the days shown on the packet. Harvest Pick individual leaves or wait and harvest full heads. Summer lettuce stays in prime eating condition only a short time, so harvest promptly and keep planting. In fall and winter the plants stay in good eating condition longer. Seed Info In optimal growing conditions at least 70% of seeds will germinate.