Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Parris Island Cos - Lactuva sativa

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Of course! Here is the product content for Parris Island Cos Romaine Lettuce Seeds.

Lactuca sativa - Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Heirloom, Untreated

The Caesar Salad Classic: Grow the iconic lettuce that defines the perfect Caesar salad! Parris Island Cos delivers that famously crisp texture, sweet flavor, and sturdy, upright heart.

Dependable & Productive: A reliable garden performer, this variety forms uniform, 8-12 inch tall heads with a creamy white heart and dark green, slightly savoyed outer leaves.

Slow to Bolt: Enjoy a longer harvest window! Parris Island Cos was specifically developed for its excellent heat tolerance, making it more resistant to bolting (going to seed) in warmer weather than many other lettuce varieties.

Disease Resistant: A vigorous and healthy grower, this heirloom is known for its good resistance to mosaic virus and other common lettuce ailments.

Container Friendly: Don't have a large garden? No problem! This Romaine's upright growth habit makes it perfectly suited for growing in containers, window boxes, and raised beds.

Fast Growing for Quick Harvests: Ready in just 65-75 days, you can enjoy fresh, homegrown salads in no time. Perfect for succession planting to ensure a continuous supply. 🥬

Cool-Season Staple: Ideal for both spring and fall planting, allowing you to enjoy crisp, garden-fresh lettuce when the weather is cool.

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USDA Zones 2-11 - Grows as a cool-season annual across all zones. Planting times are critical and must be scheduled to avoid maturity during periods of high heat, which causes bolting and bitterness.

Best Performance in Zones 4-8 where mild spring and cool, long autumns provide the ideal conditions for crisp, sweet heads. Multiple succession plantings are possible for extended harvests.

Northern Zones (2-5) - Start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost for an early summer crop. Direct sow for a fall crop in late July or early August. Use row covers to protect from late spring frosts and to extend the fall harvest season.

Hot Climate Zones (9-11) - Avoid planting for summer harvest. Sow seeds in the fall for a fantastic winter and early spring harvest. Planting in a location with afternoon shade can help extend the spring growing season before the summer heat arrives.

Soil Temperature - Germinates best in cool soil. The ideal temperature range is 55-70F (13-21C). Germination is slow and erratic in soil below 40F (4C) and is significantly inhibited in soil temperatures above 75F (24C).

Growing Season - Requires about 65-75 days of cool weather to reach full maturity. Planning is key to ensure the heads are ready for harvest before the onset of summer heat or the first hard freeze of winter.

Learn more about USDA Hardiness Zones here

Parris Island Cos Lettuce Planting Instructions
Lettuce is a cool-weather crop that grows best in the mild temperatures of spring and fall. High heat can cause the plants to bolt and the leaves to become bitter.

1. When to Plant:

Spring: Start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before your last frost date, or direct sow outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked.

Fall: Direct sow seeds about 8-10 weeks before your first expected fall frost date. In hot climates, wait until the intense summer heat has subsided.

Succession Planting: Sow a new small batch of seeds every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest.

2. Starting Seeds Indoors:

Sowing: Sow 2-3 seeds per cell in a seed tray filled with a light, moist seed-starting mix. Plant seeds very shallow, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep, as lettuce seeds need some light to germinate.

Germination: Keep the soil moist and cool, ideally between 55-70F. Seedlings will typically emerge in 7-10 days.

Light: Provide plenty of light from a sunny window or grow lights to keep seedlings strong and compact.

3. Direct Sowing Outdoors:

Site Selection: Choose a spot with at least 6 hours of direct sun. In warmer regions, a location with afternoon shade is beneficial. The soil should be loose, fertile, and well-draining.

Sowing: Sow seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep. Plant seeds about 1 inch apart in rows that are 12-18 inches apart. Once the seedlings are a few inches tall, thin them to stand 8-12 inches apart to give them room to form full heads. You can eat the tender thinnings in a salad!

4. Transplanting:

Hardening Off: If you started seeds indoors, acclimate your seedlings to outdoor conditions for a week before transplanting.

Planting: Carefully transplant the seedlings to their final spacing of 8-12 inches apart. Water them in well to help settle the soil and reduce transplant shock.

5. Ongoing Care:

Watering: Lettuce has shallow roots and requires consistent moisture for the best flavor and texture. Water regularly, aiming for about 1 inch per week, but avoid making the soil soggy.

Mulching: Apply a layer of straw or grass clippings to help keep the soil cool, retain moisture, and suppress weeds.

Fertilizing: Lettuce benefits from fertile soil. If your soil is poor, a light feeding with a balanced, nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer a few weeks after transplanting can encourage leafy growth.

Harvesting: You can harvest in two ways. For a "cut-and-come-again" supply, snip the outer leaves as needed, leaving the central growth bud to produce more. For full heads, wait until the head is firm and well-formed (about 8-12 inches tall) and cut the entire plant at the soil line. It's best to harvest in the cool of the morning.