Leonardo
Leonardo is a hybrid lettuce variety (Cichorium intybus). Harvest begins around day 65; seed germinates in 7-10 days. Set plants 8-12 inches apart. Grow in zones 3-8, full sun (6+ hours). Plants reach 3-4 feet. Hybrid seed does not come true, so it has to be bought fresh each season rather than saved.
Sowing
Direct sow in late summer for fall harvest, or early spring. Keep soil consistently moist until germination.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- Moderate — regular watering
- Soil
- Well-drained loam with moderate fertility
- Spacing
- 8-12 inches
- Height
- 3-4 feet
- Season
- Summer
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Deep purple with white ribbing
- Size
- 4-5"
- Shape
- Dense, compact rounded head
- Flavour
- Slightly bitter, complex chicory flavor with enhanced taste and color in cool fall weather.
In the kitchen
Fresh salads, grilling, braising, cooked greens
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Aphids, slugs, flea beetles
- Diseases
- Downy mildew, root rot in poorly drained soil
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | June – July | August – September |
| 2 | — | — | May – July | July – September |
| 3 | — | — | May – June | July – October |
| 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| 6 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| 8 | — | — | March – April | May – December |
| 9 | — | — | February – March | April – December |
| 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
| 11 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 12 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 13 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion planting
9 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 2 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Protein (g)
- 0.742
- Fat (g)
- 0.0738
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 3.37
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 20.5
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.0401
- Calcium (mg)
- 14.2
- Iron (mg)
- 0.0332
- Magnesium (mg)
- 6.31
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 19.2
- Potassium (mg)
- 139
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.173
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Leonardo?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other lettuce with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Leonardo suits these too.
- Buttercrunch Bibb 65 days
- Canasta 65 days
- Indigo 65 days
- Fiero 66 days
- Paris Island Cos 66 days
- Parris Island Cos 68 days