The Tropicana Lettuce has large, bright green heads with thick crumpled leaves that hold up well to heat, and has proved to be one of the most tolerant leaf lettuce varieties. A mid-July harvest provided us with many salads and sandwiches overstuffed with lettuce. Available as an easy to sow pelleted seed.

100 pelleted seeds

PLANTING

Germination:4-10 days

Germination Temperature:Optimum soil temperatures 60-75 degrees F. Soil above 75 degrees F inhibits germination.

Seed Sowing Depth: inch deep

Outside Sowing:Spring when the soil temperature reaches at least 50 degrees F. Sow 1 apart, thin to 6-12, depending on the size of lettuce you want, baby to full heads. Keep soil moist during germination. Sow every 2-3 weeks for a longer harvest period. Sow heavy seeded rows every 10-14 days for baby greens using 1 oz. Pinetree Lettuce Mix.

Starting Indoors:3-4 weeks before planting outside.Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot, thinning to one per cell/pot. Provide 60-70 degrees F soil temperatures. Transplant out, 8-12 apart in rows 12 apart.

How much does a packet plant:25-footsingle row

Harvest:Cut whole heads at the base or snipe off individual leaves.

Tips: Tropicana Lettuce needs fertile soil for optimum growth. Work in compost or well-rotted manure into your soil before planting. Provide adequate, even moisture for the best growth. Mulching helps retain moisture.