Description A red coloured form of the ever popular standard green Oakleaf. Like its close cousin, Red Oakleaf is quite heat tolerant and slow to bolt. While this lettuce is generally grown to be picked at the baby-leaf stage for tasty salads, it can also be grown through for full size heads. How to Grow Lettuce is a sun-loving cool weather crop that grows best in organic, well drained soil. Sow as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring, then every two weeks thereafter to ensure a continuous supply. Sow about 3 mm (1/8″) deep in rows 45 cm (18″) apart. An even supply of moisture during the entire growth period is imperative for success. Harvest leaf lettuce by either pulling the entire plant or by cutting leaves from the main stem at least 2.5 cm (1″) above the base – this will allow the plant to sprout new leaves. Harvest head lettuce by cutting the head off at the base just below the lower leaves. Once lettuce bolts (starts to produce a rapidly growing flower stem) leaves become bitter.
