Quick Facts:

• Days to harvest: about 50 (often sooner for baby leaves)
• Hardiness: Cool-season, handles light frost
• Light needs: Full sun to part shade
• Water needs: Moderate (consistent moisture keeps the hearts sweet)

Planting:

• Direct sow or transplant.
• Depth: 1/8 in
• Spacing: 10–12 in for mini heads.
• Timing: plant in cool windows. Little Gem is more heat-tolerant than some lettuces, but it still bolts faster once it heats up.

Care:

• Watering: keep it steady. If it dries out, you’ll see bitterness and tip burn sooner.
• Pests: slugs love the tender inner leaves.
• Heat: afternoon shade buys you time.
• Optional move: if you want tighter “mini romaine hearts,” let it size up before harvesting the whole plant.

Harvest:

• Whole heads: harvest when it feels firm in the center and is palm-sized.
• Or harvest outer leaves first if you want a longer harvest window.
• Storage: rinse and dry well, then refrigerate with a paper towel.

Why This Variety: