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Black Seeded Simpson (Looseleaf lettuce)

This heirloom variety dates back to 1875 (some sources say introduced in 1850) and is beloved for its large, lightly crumpled, lime green leaves. Black Seeded Simpson lettuce forms wide, open heads making it easy to pick individual leaves for sandwiches and burgers or harvest the whole plant as the base for an unbeatable salad.

Why we love it: Black Seeded Simpson is not only quick to grow (just 50 days from seeding to mature heads), it’s also extremely reliable, thriving in a wide range of growing conditions.

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Bauer (Oakleaf lettuce)

Compact, long standing, and with heads jam packed with crisp, sweet leaves, it’s easy to see why Bauer is an award-winning lettuce. The dense emerald rosettes grow 8 to 10 inches across and are suited for raised beds, in-ground gardens, or even containers.

Why we love it: This variety offers excellent disease and insect resistance, thriving even under challenging growing conditions.

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Red Salad Bowl (Oakleaf lettuce)

This fuss-free heirloom is dependable and delicious with beautiful bronze-red leaves that surround a light green center. The colorful leaves are deeply lobed, like oak leaves, and maintain their mild, sweet taste for weeks. For a perfect pairing, grow Red Salad Bowl alongside Green Salad Bowl.

Why we love it: This cool season green shrugs off cold temperatures making it a great choice for spring or autumn garden beds, cold frames, and greenhouses.

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Crispino (Iceberg lettuce)

Iceberg lettuce is often shunned by home gardeners who prefer to plant romaine, butterhead, and looseleaf varieties. However, Crispino is a must-grow lettuce that forms 6 to 7 inch heads of tightly packed leaves that hide a cream colored heart. The mild flavor and crunchy texture pair well with both dressings and vinaigrettes.

Why we love it: Watery supermarket iceberg lettuce doesn’t compare to the crisp, succulent texture of Crispino.

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Buttercrunch (Butterhead lettuce)

Elevate your salads with Buttercrunch whose buttery leaves are so tender they almost melt in your mouth. The ruffly outer foliage folds into loose rosettes that surround the medium-sized heads. This award-winning variety was developed over 60 years ago and remains a best-seller thanks to its ease of cultivation, crisp texture, and sweet taste.

Why we love it: The plants are both heat and cold tolerant making this a versatile option for spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

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Winter Density (Romaine lettuce)

As the name suggests, Winter Density is a terrific choice for the cold season. Use it to grow an extra early spring crop or for autumn and winter harvesting. In cold climates plant in cold frames or greenhouses. The compact upright heads grow to about 8 inches and are packed with layers of deep green leaves.

Why we love it: The fast growth means you get to enjoy full-sized heads just eight weeks from seeding and harvest as baby lettuce in as few as 30 to 40 days.

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Pomegranate Crunch (Romaine lettuce)

Pomegranate Crunch is a quick-growing, pint-sized romaine ideal for raised beds or containers where you can squeeze a ton of plants into a small space. This variety lives up to its name as the reddish outer leaves enclose a pink-tinged heart. Expect serious crunch in your salads and sandwiches.

Why we love it: Pomegranate Crunch isn’t just pretty. The plants are also resistant to common diseases like downy mildew.

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Merveille des Quatre Saisons (Butterhead lettuce)

This beloved French heirloom forms large heads made up of layer upon layer of buttery green and rose-kissed leaves. It’s both heat and cold tolerant and is ready to harvest eight to nine weeks after sowing the seeds.

Why we love it: A mature head of Merveille des Quatre Saisons is a garden treat. This adaptable variety is also ideal for baby greens.

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New Red Fire (Looseleaf lettuce)

Light up the vegetable garden with the loose frilly heads of New Red Fire whose leaves are a beautiful blend of ruby, bronze, and green. The plants mature just 55 days from direct seeding. They are tolerant of warm and cool weather.

Why we love it: New Red Fire has excellent bolt resistance and maintains its high quality for many weeks.

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Lollo Rossa/Lolla Rossa (Looseleaf lettuce)

This petite lettuce is distinctive for its intensely curled foliage that forms a tidy mound in the garden. Use it as an edging in garden beds or grow in planters and window boxes. The frizzy leaves add loft and crunch to salads and, thanks to their copper-red leaf edge, a vibrant splash of color.

Why we love it: Lollo Rossa is a cut-and-come-again type of lettuce. This means you can cut the head back to 2 inches above the soil and it will regrow for a second harvest.

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Spinach

More Easy to Grow Salad Greens

• Arugula – Fast growing arugula is a cold hardy green for spring, autumn, and winter. The peppery flavor adds a kick to salads, sandwiches, and pastas.
• Spinach – Spinach is a classic leafy vegetable with succulent leaves that run from smooth to semi-savoyed to heavily savoyed, depending on the variety. It’s delicious raw and cooked.
• Mesclun – Mesclun is a blend of gourmet greens like lettuce, kale, mustard, and spinach that are harvested in the baby leaf stage. Plant small amounts every few weeks for a non-stop supply.

Sources