Little Gem
Little Gem is a heirloom lettuce variety (Lactuca sativa). Harvest begins around day 40; seed germinates in 7-14 days. Set plants 6-8 inches apart. Grow in soil pH 6.0-7.0, zones 2-11, full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours). Plants reach 6-12 inches. It will crop in a container.
Sowing
Direct sow in early spring and late summer. Excellent for succession planting every 2-3 weeks.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
- Water
- 1 inch per week, consistent moisture
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile soil with good organic content
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 6-8 inches
- Height
- 6-12 inches
- Season
- Warm season annual
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Medium green outer leaves with pale yellow-green hearts
- Size
- 4-6 inch tall compact heads, individual serving size
- Shape
- Upright mini romaine-style heads with tight hearts
- Flavour
- Sweet, crisp, and nutty with tender hearts and crunchy outer leaves
In the kitchen
Grilling, Caesar salads, individual salad servings, gourmet presentations, braising.
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Aphids, slugs, cutworms, flea beetles
- Diseases
- Downy mildew, lettuce drop, tip burn
- Resistance
- Good bolt resistance, moderate disease tolerance
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | June – July | July – September |
| 2 | — | — | May – July | June – 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 | January – December |
| 12 | — | — | January – February | January – December |
| 13 | — | — | January – February | January – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 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 Little Gem?
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 Little Gem suits these too.
- Sorrel 40 days
- Italiko Red 40 days
- Claytonia 40 days
- Black Seeded Simpson 40 days
- Hon Tsai Tai 37 days
- Little Shanghai 37 days