Variety field guide
What to expect from Red Salad Bowl Lettuce Seeds
Red Salad Bowl grows upright clusters of deeply lobed leaves in warm bronze and red tones.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Red Salad Bowl grows upright clusters of deeply lobed leaves in warm bronze and red tones. Its mild sweetness and tender texture complement crisp green lettuces, herbs and other salad leaves. The open, loose-leaf habit lets you pick the outside foliage gradually, leaving the center to replenish the bowl. Sow small patches in succession for a steady fresh harvest, and gather leaves while young for the finest texture and color.
Bronze-red, deeply lobed leaves for colorful fresh salads.
Growing facts
- Botanical name: Lactuca sativa
- Maturity or display: 40-50 days
- Mature size: Size varies with harvest stage; allow the stated plant spacing
- Spacing: 12 in between plants; rows 18 in
About the variety
Red Salad Bowl is an open-pollinated oakleaf lettuce. Its deeply lobed, bronze-red foliage adds color to a salad bed, and the loose-leaf habit allows repeated picking of the outside leaves.
Starting seed
Sow on the surface or barely cover, about 1/8 in., in spring or late summer. Keep moist at 55-70 F; allow 5-14 days to sprout. Thin to 12 in. apart, rows 18 in. apart. Choose fertile soil and sun to light shade.
Care through the season
Maintain steady moisture and avoid crowding. Shade cloth can moderate strong afternoon heat, but slow-bolting varieties still flower eventually. Make small repeat sowings for a steady supply. Lettuce seed may germinate poorly in hot soil; start in a cooler spot when necessary.
Harvest and use
Pick outside leaves as needed or cut full rosettes in 40-50 days. Refrigerate promptly; harvest before bolting. For seed, let selected plants flower, isolate varieties and collect the fluffy, dry seedheads.
Saving seed
Lettuce is largely self-pollinating, though crossing is possible. Keep healthy plants with the desired leaf type, allow seed stalks to flower, and separate varieties when purity matters. Collect ripe seedheads as their white fluff appears. Dry thoroughly, clean and store cool and dry.
Common problems
Inspect for aphids and slugs. Keep foliage and crowns from staying wet overnight, avoid waterlogged soil and maintain airflow. Heat, long days and water stress promote bolting or bitter leaves; harvest promptly and plan a new cool-season sowing.
Frequently asked questions
What distinguishes this variety?
Red Salad Bowl grows upright clusters of deeply lobed leaves in warm bronze and red tones.
When should I harvest?
Pick outside leaves as needed or cut full rosettes in 40-50 days. Refrigerate promptly; harvest before bolting. For seed, let selected plants flower, isolate varieties and collect the fluffy, dry seedheads.
How can I avoid poor quality?
Maintain steady moisture and avoid crowding. Shade cloth can moderate strong afternoon heat, but slow-bolting varieties still flower eventually. Make small repeat sowings for a steady supply. Lettuce seed may germinate poorly in hot soil; start in a cooler spot when necessary.
