Curly Leaves Lettuce

500 Seeds

Curly Leaf Lettuce is a fast-growing, cool-season leafy vegetable known for its crisp, finely curled leaves and mild, refreshing flavor. It forms loose heads or open rosettes and is ideal for fresh salads, sandwiches, wraps, garnishes, and baby leaf harvests. It tolerates repeated harvesting by the "cut-and-come-again" method. In the Gulf region, it grows best during the cooler months and performs exceptionally well in raised beds, containers, greenhouses, and hydroponic systems.

Best Planting Time

• September to February (recommended)
• Can be grown year-round in cooled greenhouses or indoor hydroponic systems
• Avoid outdoor planting when daytime temperatures consistently exceed 30–32°C, as plants may bolt quickly.

Seed Preparation

• No soaking is required.
• No cold stratification is required.
• For faster germination, seeds may be refrigerated for 24 hours before sowing (optional).

Soil Preparation

Use fertile, loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Recommended mix:

• 40% Coco peat
• 30% Compost
• 20% Garden soil
• 10% Perlite

Ideal soil pH

• 6.0–7.0

Sowing Method

• Sow seeds directly or in seed trays.
• Plant seeds 0.3–0.5 cm deep.
• Cover lightly with fine soil or vermiculite.
• Keep the growing medium consistently moist until germination.

Temperature & Light

• Ideal germination temperature: 15–22°C
• Ideal growing temperature: 15–25°C
• Requires 4–6 hours of direct sunlight or bright filtered light daily.
• During warm Gulf afternoons, provide 30–50% shade cloth to keep leaves tender.

Watering

• Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season.
• Water whenever the top 1–2 cm of soil becomes dry.
• Water at the base of the plants to reduce disease risk.

Germination Time

• 3–7 days

Transplanting

Transplant seedlings when they have:

• 3–4 true leaves
• Height of 8–10 cm

Space plants:

• 25–30 cm apart

Space rows:

• 30–40 cm apart

Harvesting

Harvest begins:

• 30–45 days after sowing for baby leaves.
• 45–60 days after sowing for mature plants.

Harvest outer leaves first or cut the whole plant approximately 2–3 cm above the soil to encourage regrowth.

Gulf Climate Tips

• Plant from September through February for the best quality.
• Keep soil consistently moist to prevent bitterness.
• Apply organic mulch to keep roots cool.
• Fertilize every 2–3 weeks with a nitrogen-rich balanced fertilizer for lush leaf growth.
• Provide afternoon shade during warm spells to delay bolting.
• Curly Leaf Lettuce performs exceptionally well in greenhouses, hydroponic systems, raised beds, containers, and vertical gardens.