Romaine lettuce Little Gem Romaine lettuce is a compact romaine lettuce variety that produces small, elongated heads with firm, juicy and exceptionally crisp leaves. The leaves have a mild, fresh and noticeably sweet flavour with very little bitterness. Their firm texture remains crisp longer than that of many other lettuce varieties and stays pleasantly crunchy even after cooking. This makes Little Gem one of the most versatile lettuces in the kitchen. Little Gem is also rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B11 (folate), C and K and contains important minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, copper, magnesium, manganese, sodium and zinc. In addition, it provides dietary fibre and is low in calories, making it an excellent choice for a healthy and balanced diet. Little Gem is a very early and fast-maturing variety that forms compact, self-closing heads. The heads can be harvested whole once they feel firm, or the outer leaves can be picked earlier for a continuous harvest. Thanks to its compact growth habit, the leaves remain clean and well protected. Little Gem is ideal for growing in open ground, raised beds, square-foot gardens and large pots or containers on patios and balconies.
The compact heads are delicious as the base for fresh salads and are perfect for the classic Caesar salad. Their naturally sweet flavour pairs beautifully with tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, celery, avocado, sweet peppers, onions and sprouts. Fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, oranges, mangoes and pomegranates also make refreshing combinations. Little Gem goes particularly well with cheeses such as Parmesan, feta, goat's cheese, mozzarella and mature cheeses. It also complements eggs, smoked salmon, tuna, prawns, chicken, turkey, beef, pork and grilled steak. Vegetarian dishes with chickpeas, lentils or grilled halloumi benefit from the crisp texture of the leaves. Its slightly sweet flavour pairs especially well with walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, almonds, pine nuts and sunflower seeds. Dressings based on olive oil, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, mustard or yoghurt complement it perfectly. Fresh herbs such as chives, parsley, basil, dill, chervil and mint further enhance its fresh flavour. Unlike many other lettuce varieties, Little Gem is also excellent for cooked dishes. The sturdy leaves can be briefly stir-fried, braised or added at the end of a stir-fry. Halved heads can be grilled or lightly pan-fried, which enhances their natural sweetness. Little Gem is also delicious in baked dishes, pasta, risotto, savoury tarts, soups and even refreshing chilled lettuce soup. Non hardy annual. Height: 20 - 30 cm. Width: 15 - 20 cm.
Indoor sowing/Outdoor sowing under glass: middle of February - end of March
Outdoor sowing: end of March - beginning of June and beginning of July - beginning of August
Germination: 7 - 10 dagen
Germination temp.: 8 - 18 °C
Sowing depth: ½ cm
Plant distance: 20 - 30 cm
Plant position: sunny
Harvest period: middle of May - beginning of August and beginning of September - middle of October
Sow indoors in trays filled with moist potting soil. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil, because lettuce is a light germinator. Keep moist and light. Sow outdoors under glass in loose and moist (potting) soil from the middle of February on a sunny plot with moist and freedraining soil. Keep the soil moist and weedfree. You can harden of your indoor sown plants for 10 -14 days by putting them outside during the day from the beginning of May. Transplant the seedlings outdoors to a sunny plot with moist and freedraining soil from the middle of May, when there's no longer any danger of nightfrost. Keep 20 - 30 cm apart to ensure plenty of room. Sow ever 2 - 3 weeks a small amount of seeds to ensure you can harvest longer.
Sow outdoors from the end of March - beginning of June and from the beginning of July - beginning of August. Sow on a sunny plot with moist and freedraining soil. Keep 20 - 30 cm apart to make sure that the plants have plenty of room for the heads. Sow in rows about 20 - 30 cm apart. Sow in each hole about 3 seeds. Cover the seeds lightly with soil. Thin the seedlings after 3 - 4 weeks to 1 strongest plant per hole.
Sow approx. every 3 weeks a small amount of seeds to ensure a continious harvest of lettuce. Water when the soil is dry and water profusely during dry-spells. Protect your lettuce against snails and slugs and aphids. You can keep Romaine lettuce in the crisper compartment of your fridge for approx 2 - 3 days. Don't wrap the lettuce.
