Loose leaf Lettuce Green Improved - Lactuca sativa

Looseleaf lettuce 'Green Improved' is a fast-growing variety ideal for spring, autumn and cold frame crops. Sow from February to July and harvest 4 to 6 weeks after sowing.

Loose leaf lettuce doesn’t form hearts but rows of leaves, that can be harvested as and when needed. The plant will continue to put out new leaves.

Lettuce is one of the most popular vegetables thanks to its deliciously fresh texture and flavour and its numerous health benefits. Generally eaten raw in salads, it is also very good cooked (with peas, for example!)

Lettuce is an annual plant that belongs to the great Asteraceae family. Its Latin name is Lactuca sativa: “lactuca” refers to the white sap that appears when the leaves and stems are cut, "sativa" means "cultivated".

Lettuce an essential member of any self-respecting vegetable garden. With so many varieties available, it can be grown almost all year round. So long as you comply with the growing calendar of the chosen variety, it is easy and quick to grow and will do well in most rich, moist soils.

Harvesting: use a knife to cut the plants’ outer leaves. The plant will then continue to develop and produce new leaves.

Preservation: Lettuce can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator but is best eaten fresh.

Useful tip: During hot summers, lettuce exposed to direct sunlight tends to wilt and look miserable. To avoid this, protect the plants from intense sunlight by covering them with overturned crates. Summer lettuces don’t have to be grown in rows: dot them around your vegetable garden, under runner beans, in the middle of a cucumber or squash patch. They will benefit from the extra shade.