Picking lettuce Loose Leaf is also known as Blonde Smooth Leaf. It is a fast-growing cut-and-come-again lettuce with soft, tender, crisp leaves that range from light green to pale yellow. The lettuce has a fresh, mild and slightly sweet flavour without any bitterness, making it appealing to almost everyone. The thin, juicy leaves remain pleasantly crisp even when young and are excellent both raw and lightly cooked.
This versatile lettuce makes an excellent base for green salads and mixed salads and pairs beautifully with tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, sweet peppers, avocado and sprouts. It also complements soft cheeses such as goat's cheese, mozzarella and feta. For a more refined flavour, Loose Leaf can be combined with nuts, seeds and fruit, including apples, pears, strawberries and citrus fruits. Its mild taste is enhanced by a simple olive oil and lemon vinaigrette, a balsamic dressing or a creamy yoghurt or mustard dressing. Fresh herbs such as chives, parsley, dill, basil and chervil further enhance its delicate flavour.
The crisp leaves are delicious not only in salads, but also on sandwiches, wraps, pitas, tacos and burgers. They make a fresh bed for grilled fish, chicken or meat and provide an attractive garnish for cold platters, buffets and cheese boards. The young leaves can even be blended into smoothies or vegetable juices. Although Loose Leaf is mainly eaten raw, the leaves can also be added at the end of cooking to stir-fries, pasta dishes, omelettes or soups, where they wilt only slightly while retaining their fresh flavour.
A major advantage of this cut-and-come-again lettuce is that only the outer leaves are harvested. The centre of the plant continues to grow, allowing fresh leaves to be picked repeatedly over several weeks. Harvest preferably early in the morning, when the leaves are at their crispest. For the best flavour and nutritional value, use the leaves immediately after harvesting or store them in the refrigerator for a few days in an airtight container or wrapped in a damp cloth.
Loose-leaf lettuce reaches a height of approximately 15 - 25 cm and a width of 20 - 30 cm, depending on plant spacing and harvesting method. It grows very quickly and can be harvested for the first time about 30 days after sowing. Suitable for growing in spring, summer and autumn, it also performs very well in large containers, raised beds and vegetable planters, making it an excellent choice for a continuous supply of fresh, flavourful lettuce on a balcony, patio or in the vegetable garden. Non hardy annual. Height: 15 - 25 cm. Width: 20 - 30 cm.
Indoor sowing/outdoor sowing under glass: early April
Outdoor sowing: from May on
Germination: 7 - 10 days
Germination temp.: 10 - 18 °C
Sowing depth: ½ cm
Planting distance: 35 - 40 cm
Planting position: sunny
Days til harvesting: 40 - 45 days
Start sowing picking lettuce indoors or under glass in April 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 10 - 18 °C, the first seedlings usually emerge within 7 - 10 days. Once the seedlings have developed a few true leaves and the risk of night frost has passed, harden them off before transplanting them to a sunny location. Space the plants 35 - 40 cm apart to allow them to develop a large, loose rosette of leaves.
From May onwards, picking lettuce can also be sown directly outdoors once the danger of night frost has passed. Sow in rows spaced 35 - 40 cm apart. Place two to three seeds every 35 - 40 cm and cover them with approximately ½ cm of soil. Keep the soil evenly moist during germination. After 3 - 4 weeks, thin the seedlings to the strongest plant at each sowing position. Leaf lettuce 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 weeds.
The first leaves can be harvested approximately 45 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, particularly during damp weather, and check regularly for aphids so that any infestation can be dealt with promptly.
