Growing Little Gem Lettuce Garden Seeds

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Little Gem Lettuce Growth Habits:

In late winter or early spring, when the soil temperature has reached 40 degrees, direct-sow the Little Gem Lettuce seeds 1/2" deep. Space them every 1" to start with, then eventually thin to 6" apart. Lettuce should be succession planted every 2 to 3 weeks for a continual harvest. This variety does well in heat, so it can be grown during the summer months in many parts of the country.

Lettuce needs a lot of nitrogen and prefers soil with plenty of Organic matter. Keep the soil moist, but well-drained.

Culinary Uses for Little Gem Lettuce:

Harvest the mature leaves and use them in a tasty, homemade Caesar salad. Use smaller leaves in a fresh summertime garden salad. The elongated, mature leaves are also wonderful as a low-carb substitute wrap for tortillas. Also great as an addition to healthy smoothies, or the leaves can be juiced.

Health Benefits of Little Gem Lettuce:

Like all lettuces, plants grown from non-GMO, heirloom Little Gem Lettuce seeds have myriad health benefits. The leaves contain certain proteins, such as lipoxygenase, that studies have shown help reduce inflammation and pain in the bones. Lettuce also contains antioxidants, which promote good vision and can mitigate the development of macular degeneration. This vegetable is also a good source of vitamins A and K.

History:

The ancient Egyptians cultivated lettuce 3,000 years ago. Lettuce grown in the United States came over from seed with Christopher Columbus in the late 1490s.

Seeds Per Package:

• 1 g - Approximately 900 Seeds
• 1 oz - Approximately 25,000 Seeds
• 4 oz - Approximately 100,000 Seeds
• 1 lb - Approximately 400,000 Seeds
• 5 lb - Approximately 2,000,000 Seeds