Head Lettuce Planting Program
Johnny’s Planting Programs are designed to take the guesswork out of succession planting, allowing you to easily extend your harvest throughout the growing season.
Full-sized heads of lettuce are an essential product to have on hand at market and on the farmstand.
Variety selection is key in providing your customers with a continuous supply of lettuce throughout the season.
Johnny’s helps take the guesswork out of your lettuce succession plantings by providing the recommended planting program outlined below.
Early Season
Planting in cool weather (early spring) for warm weather (late spring and early summer) harvest. Varieties are selected for quick growth so they make full heads.
 |
Type | Recommended Varieties |
| • Green Leaf | Two Star | |
| • Red Leaf | Vulcan | |
| • Green Romaine | Green Forest | |
| • Romaine Hearts | Ridgeline | |
| • Green Butterhead | Nancy | |
| • Red Butterhead | Red Cross, Skyphos |
Mid Season
Planting in warm weather (late spring and early summer) for hot weather (mid and late summer) harvest. Varieties are selected for heat tolerance — i.e., resistance to bolting and tipburn.
 |
Type | Recommended Varieties |
| • Green Leaf | Tropicana, Green Star | |
| • Red Leaf | New Red Fire | |
| • Summer Crisp | Nevada, Magenta, Cherokee | |
| • Green Romaine | Coastal Star, Salvius | |
| • Romaine Hearts | Helvius | |
| • Green Butterhead | Adriana | |
| • Red Butterhead | Red Cross, Skyphos |
Late Season
Planting in hot weather (late summer), up to 60 days before first frost, for cool weather (fall) harvest. Varieties are selected for disease resistance and cold tolerance.
 |
Type | Recommended Varieties |
| • Greenleaf | Green Star | |
| • Redleaf | Ruby Sky | |
| • Green Romaine | Green Forest, Salvius | |
| • Romaine Hearts | Ridgeline, Helvius | |
| • Green Butterhead | Sylvesta | |
| • Red Butterhead | Skyphos |
NOTE: Even heat-tolerant varieties have upper limits of temperatures they can withstand. In areas such as the South and Midwest, Johnny’s recommends avoiding lettuce planting during the warmest part of the season.