Picking lettuce Lollo Rosso is an Italian heirloom variety that forms a loose rosette of deeply curled, fresh green leaves with attractive dark red edges. Closely related to Lollo Bionda, it is distinguished by its striking colour and slightly richer, subtly nutty flavour. As the plant does not form a compact head, the outer leaves can be harvested repeatedly while the centre continues producing new growth. This makes Lollo Rosso an excellent cut-and-come-again lettuce that can be harvested over a long period.
Culinarily, Lollo Rosso is exceptionally versatile. Its colourful, finely curled leaves add volume, colour and a delightfully crisp texture to salads. The mild, slightly nutty flavour pairs beautifully with tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, radishes, avocado, apples, nuts and both mild and mature cheeses. It is also an excellent addition to Italian dishes such as antipasti, bruschetta, pasta and pizza. In addition, it is delicious in sandwiches, wraps and burgers or as a fresh garnish for fish, meat, poultry and vegetarian dishes. The young leaves can also be harvested as baby leaves, offering an even more tender texture. This easy-to-grow variety develops quickly and provides an abundant harvest of fresh, flavourful leaves over a long harvesting season. Non hardy annual. Height: 20 - 30 cm.
Indoor sowing/outdoor sowing under glass: February - March
Outdoor sowing: May - July
Germination: 7 - 10 days
Germination temp. : 15 - 18 °C
Sowing depth: ½ cm
Planting distance: 20 - 30 cm
Planting position: sunny
Days till harvest: 50 - 55 days
Start sowing Lollo Bionda indoors or under glass in February or March in pots or seed trays filled with light, moist seed compost. Sow the seeds thinly and cover them with approximately ½ cm of fine seed compost. Keep the soil consistently moist during germination, but avoid waterlogging. At a temperature of 15 - 18 °C, the first seedlings usually emerge within 7 - 10 days. Once the seedlings have developed a few true leaves, they can be pricked out into individual pots. Gradually harden off the young plants before transplanting them to a sunny location once the risk of night frost has passed. Allow a spacing of 20 - 30 cm between plants so they have enough room to develop a large, loose leaf rosette.
From May through July, Lollo Bionda can also be sown directly outdoors. Sow in rows spaced 20 - 30 cm apart. Place two to three seeds every 20 cm and cover them with approximately ½ cm of soil. Keep the soil evenly moist during germination. After about 3 - 4 weeks, thin the seedlings to the strongest plant at each sowing position. Lollo Bionda grows best in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil that retains sufficient moisture. Water regularly, especially during warm and dry periods, to prevent bolting and bitterness. Applying a layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth.
The first leaves can be harvested approximately 55 days after sowing. Harvest the outer leaves while leaving the centre of the plant intact, allowing it to continue producing fresh leaves over a long period. By sowing a small quantity every one to two weeks, you can enjoy a continuous supply of fresh leaf lettuce throughout most of the growing season. Protect young plants from slugs, especially during damp weather, and inspect them regularly for aphids so that any infestation can be dealt with promptly.
