Also known as Lettuce · 445 gardener saves
Lactuca: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Lactuca, the genus most gardeners know as lettuce. We track 9 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 9 most-saved Lactuca varieties
Of 9 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedLittle Gem Lettuce
Lactuca sativa 'Little Gem'
#2 most savedButtercrunch Lettuce
Lactuca sativa 'Buttercrunch'
#3 most savedHampton Lettuce
Lactuca sativa 'Hampton'
Brentwood Lettuce
Lactuca sativa 'Brentwood'
Lettuce Mix
Lactuca sativa 'Mix'
Drunken Woman Frizzy Headed Lettuce
Lactuca sativa 'Drunken Woman Frizzy Headed'
Flashy Oak Leaf Lettuce
Lactuca sativa 'Flashy Oak'
Marvel of Four Seasons
Lactuca sativa 'Merveille de Quatre Saisons'
Parris Islands Cos Lettuce
Lactuca sativa 'Parris Islands Cos'
How to grow Lactuca
What the Lactuca varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 9 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Lactuca year
- PlantFebruary, March, April, July and August100% of varieties
Sow seeds in early spring and late summer for succession crops
- HarvestApril, May, June, September and October100% of varieties
Harvest outer leaves (cut-and-come-again) or entire heads
- Check for PestsMarch, April, May, August, September and October100% of varieties
Monitor for aphids and slugs, especially in damp conditions
- FertilizeMarch, April, May, August and September89% of varieties
Apply balanced, nitrogen-rich fertilizer every 4 weeks
Do
- Provide full sun for optimal growth
- Thin seedlings to prevent overcrowding
- Water regularly to keep soil moist but not waterlogged 🌱
- Mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds
- Water regularly to keep soil moist 🌱
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Avoid letting soil dry out completely ❌
- Don’t let soil dry out completely
- Don't over-fertilize, which can cause bitter leaves
What goes wrong with Lactuca
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Curling and yellowing leaves | Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap |
| Downy Mildew | Yellow patches on upper leaf surfaces with fuzzy growth underneath | Use organic fungicides and improve air circulation |
| Slugs | Holes in leaves and slime trails | Use copper tape or organic slug bait |
| Downy mildew | Yellowish patches on upper leaf surfaces, fuzzy gray mold underneath | Apply copper-based fungicide and improve air circulation |
| Downy Mildew | Yellow patches with fuzzy growth | Improve air circulation and apply organic fungicides |
| Leaf Spot | Dark spots on leaves | Remove affected leaves and avoid overhead watering |
| Root Rot | Wilting and blackened roots | Ensure well-draining soil and reduce watering |
Making more Lactuca
Cuttings
- Select healthy leaf or stem cuttings.
- Plant in moist soil or water until roots develop, approximately 2–3 weeks.
Seeds
- Tuck seeds into moist soil in spring
- Keep soil consistently moist for germination (7–14 days)
Lactuca questions
How many types of Lactuca are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 9 distinct Lactuca varieties. The most popular — ranked by 445 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Lactuca grow in?
Across its varieties, Lactuca covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Lactuca bloom?
Most Lactuca varieties bloom in early summer, late spring to summer, late spring to mid-summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Lactuca should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Lactuca shows up in
By hardiness zone
Design with Lactuca in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
