Red Lettuce is one of the on growing demand on market as it is healthy and looks good giving a colorful vibe to the lettuce.
There are three types of Red Lettuce Varieties available currently and they can also be grown in your garden the three Red Lettuce Varieties are as follows:
1. Red Sails
Red sails is a red lettuce variety that is the widest-grown red-colored lettuce that made a splash in 1985 when it won an All-America Selections award. They are cold-tolerant, heat-tolerant, and easy to grow plants which can also be tasty and bitter-free, even after bolting.
They are maroon and green in color 6 inches to 10 inches in height with 6 inches to 8 inches in width. As for water, they need moderate watering as they are largely composed of water and it responds to irrigation by giving a larger and better-tasting harvest.
Also, red lettuce has a weak root system and isn’t a very efficient feeder so you will have to use fertilizer or the soil should be fertile. They require moderate amounts of potassium and phosphorus, mainly nitrogen. As for outdoors, they need a temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 40 degrees Fahrenheit soil temperature. They also need partial shade during the warm season and a minimum of 6 hours of sun during the cool season.
2. Ruby Gem
Ruby Gem is a red lettuce variety that was introduced by Renee’s Garden a few years ago. They are grown in the open garden during the spring and autumn season with tall crops to offer some shade from the hot sun. They can be grown in both sun and partial shade but they thrive in cool conditions with thin and keep evenly moist for sweet-tasting full heads.
As for fertilizer feeding you can use a liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks and you can also give Ruby Gem afternoon shade and check water daily during hot seasons or weather. They can also be grown well in containers and window boxes. They also have ruby-red leaves and green hearts which are very crisp and delicious.
3. Red Deer Tongue
Red Deer Tongue is a red lettuce variety that has deep mahogany red and the leaves are sturdy while they hold up well in the salad bowl. They are also known for being open-pollinated so that means you can save your seeds and regrow them.
You can pre-cultivate them from March to May or you can directly sow them from May to August. They germinate from 5 to 8 days while they need a spacing of about 35 to 50 cm in a row. Red Deer Tongue can grow up to 20 cm to 30 cm and grows best in sunny places to half-shade places.