How to Identify Leaf Lettuce

Leaf lettuce is easy to grow.

Leaf or loose-leaf lettuce is one of five distinct types of lettuce, which includes cos or romaine lettuce, crisphead, butterhead and stem or asparagus lettuce. Leaf lettuces are ready to harvest earlier in the year, often a few weeks after planting. Not all types of leaf lettuce look the same, and are not hard to identify.

Instructions

1. Look at how the lettuce leaves are positioned in relation to the other leaves. Head lettuce leaves are tightly oriented around the center of the head, which is known as the "rosette." (Iceberg lettuce is an example of this.) In leaf lettuce varieties, the leaves are attached to a rosette at the bottom, but are looser at the top and any grow at more random angles.

2. Examine the appearance of the leaves. Leaf lettuce can be green, red or a combination of the two colors. Leaf edges are often slightly rippled but with firm rims. The ripples can help differentiate leaf lettuce from romaine lettuce and head-type lettuce, which have smooth leaf edges.

3. Taste the lettuce. Leaf lettuce has a mild taste, although the red colored varieties tend to be spicier. Leaf lettuces varieties are versatile and easy to use in sandwiches and salads, because they do not have overpowering flavors.

Tips & Warnings

• Leaf lettuce is the easiest variety of lettuce to grow. It matures quickly and can handle intense sunlight.

• Some recommended varieties of leaf lettuce include black-seeded Simpson, salad bowl, Grand Rapids, slobolt, oakleaf, red sails, lollo rosso, ruby and red fire.

• Leaf lettuces mix well with spicier greens like arugula, mustard and beet greens to form a mesclun mix.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Lettuce
• The Ohio State University; Growing Lettuce in the Home Garden; Marianne Riofrio
• Planet Green; Should You Grow Head Lettuce or Leaf Lettuce in Your Garden?; Colleen Vanderlinden; April 2010
• British Leafy Salads Association: Leaf Guide

Resources

• Reimer Seeds: Looseleaf Lettuce