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Lettuce · Brassica rapa var. chinensis

Little Shanghai

Little Shanghai is a hybrid lettuce. Germination takes 7-10 days and fruit ripens from about day 37. Skin runs to green. Water need is high — consistent moisture needed. Suits zones 5-9. As a hybrid it will not breed true; saving seed from it is not worth the space.

Lettuce
37days to harvest
7-10 daysdays to germinate
Z5–9USDA zones
Easydifficulty
F1 hybrid

Sowing

Direct sow or start indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting after last frost

Cultivation

Sun
Full sun to part shade
Water
High — consistent moisture needed
Soil
Well-drained, fertile soil with organic matter; slightly acidic to neutral pH
Spacing
6-8 inches
Height
3 feet
Season
Warm season annual

Appearance & flavour

Colour
Green
Shape
Compact, upright rosette with proportional mini structure
Flavour
Mild, tender, and crisp with delicate flavor; classic pac choi character at miniature scale.

In the kitchen

Fresh salads, stir-fries, Asian cuisine, sautéing, steaming

Pests, disease & resistance

Pests
Cabbage worms, flea beetles, aphids, slugs
Diseases
Downy mildew, bacterial leaf spot, clubroot

Planting calendar by USDA zone

ZoneStart indoorsTransplantDirect sowHarvest
1——June – JulyJuly – September
2——May – JulyJune – September
3——May – JuneJune – October
4——April – JuneJune – October
5——April – MayMay – November
6——April – MayMay – November
7——March – MayApril – November
8——March – AprilApril – December
9——February – MarchMarch – December
10——January – MarchFebruary – December
11——January – FebruaryJanuary – December
12——January – FebruaryJanuary – December
13——January – FebruaryJanuary – December

Companion planting

9 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.

ChivesRepels aphids and improves lettuce flavor while taking minimal space
CarrotsDeep roots don't compete with shallow lettuce roots, helps break up soil
RadishesQuick-growing companion that loosens soil and deters flea beetles
MarigoldsRepels aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes that commonly attack lettuce
SpinachSimilar growing requirements and can be succession planted together
GarlicNatural pest deterrent against aphids and slugs that damage lettuce
NasturtiumsActs as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, edible flowers
DillAttracts beneficial insects like ladybugs that control lettuce pests
ParsleyAttracts beneficial insects and doesn't compete for nutrients

Avoid

BroccoliLarge leaves create too much shade and compete heavily for nutrients
SunflowersAllelopathic compounds inhibit lettuce germination and growth
FennelStrong allelopathic properties that stunt growth of most vegetables including lettuce

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
← PreviousStella Rosa Next →Luna Rossa

Where to buy seed and equipment

Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Growing it? There is a full cultivation guide at the lettuce growing guide.

Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.

DarkGrow forum

Grown Little Shanghai?

Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.

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Other lettuce with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Little Shanghai suits these too.

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