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18. 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.
Find seeds in a variety of packet sizes from True Leaf Market.
19. Ezbruke
‘Ezbruke’ is a striking mini romaine with open, deep-scarlet outer leaves and bright green interiors speckled with red.
Heads stand approximately seven inches tall at maturity and can be spaced close together, just four inches for baby leaf or six inches for mini heads.
It matures in about 57 days, tolerates heat well and resists downy mildew, aphids, and tomato bushy stunt virus.
The crisp, colorful leaves add both visual appeal and freshness to salads or sandwiches.
You can find packets of seeds available at High Mowing Organic Seeds.
20. 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.’
Maturing in 50 to 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 eight to 12 inches. You can harvest them early if you’re a fan of baby greens.
You’ll find packets of 500 ‘Forellenschluss’ seeds available at Burpee.
21. 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 eight to 12 inches in 70 days, the leaves have a sweet flavor.
You can find packets of 700 seeds available at Burpee.
22. 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 six 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.
Find seeds in a variety of packet sizes at Eden Brothers.
23. 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.
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 to 70 days, or harvest early for baby greens. The delicate, crisp leaves have a sweet and mild flavor.
You can buy seeds in a variety of packet sizes from Eden Brothers.
Learn more about growing ‘Parris Island’ lettuce.
24. 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 to 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.
You can find seeds for ‘Paris White’ in a variety of packet sizes from Eden Brothers.
25. Vivian
‘Vivian’ is the largest of all the romaine lettuces I’ve come across. With tightly bunched 12- to 16-inch leaves and a six-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.
Add ‘Vivian’ to your garden today with packets of 300 seeds, available at Burpee.
26. Winter Density
‘Winter Density’ is a compact romaine with tightly packed, glossy green leaves that form small, dense heads about eight inches tall.
Ready to harvest in 55 to 60 days, it’s hardy enough to withstand cooler conditions and can extend the lettuce season into fall or even early winter with protection.
The thick, juicy leaves have a rich, sweet flavor and work well in salads or as crunchy, sturdy wraps.
You can find seeds available from High Mowing Organic Seeds in your choice of packet sizes.
Check out our guide to growing ‘Winter Density’ next!
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.
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Kristina Hicks-Hamblin
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