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Variety profile · Lettuce

Growing Little Gem: small lettuce heads for beds and pots

Little Gem forms compact heads with a crisp, sweet heart. Discover how to sow this cos lettuce, provide enough space and harvest in time, with attention to moisture and warmth.

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AI illustration of Little Gem
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Sowing
Spring to autumn; choose a suitable seasonal variety
Harvesting
Young leaves or a filled head
Location
Light; preferably cooler and partly sheltered in heat
Pot
Quite possible with a suitable type and enough space

This growing advice helps you choose. Your variety, growth stage, weather and conditions in your space determine the actual timing.

A good start

Sowing under cover and raising seedlings

Start under cover in cool conditions or sow directly · Lettuce

February–August, depending on cultivarSow in a bright position that is not hot. A warm loft can be too hot.

Germination and temperature
Germinate in cool, bright conditions; much lettuce germinates poorly above about 25 °C.
After emergence
Keep emerged lettuce bright and well ventilated; prevent high greenhouse temperatures and drying out.
Pricking out and potting on
Sow in modules or prick out manageable seedlings into individual cells. Keep the root ball intact when planting out.
Hardening off and planting out
Gradually acclimatise indoor-raised plants to sun, wind and outdoor temperatures; shelter them again on cold nights. Plant out sturdy young plants; keep the growing point clear and protect against slugs and snails.

Choose a spring, summer or winter cultivar. Celtuce has a different harvest aim from heading lettuce; follow its own cultivar window.

Sources and use

Royal Horticultural Society · RHS — sla kweken ↗Soort- of productgebonden bron; buitenlandse perioden zijn geen vaste Nederlandse zaaidatum.

Utah State University Extension · USU Extension — sla in de tuin ↗Soort- of productgebonden bron; buitenlandse perioden zijn geen vaste Nederlandse zaaidatum.

Guideline periods for the Netherlands and Flanders. Check the variety, available light, soil and measured temperatures. Greenhouse heating does not guarantee enough winter light.

Compare how to raise other vegetables →

What makes Little Gem different?

Variety type
Dwarf cos (romaine); small, firm headsUnited Kingdom
Light
Full sunUnited Kingdom
Main colour
Green leafUnited Kingdom
Suitable for pots
YesUnited Kingdom
Soil
Moisture-retentive soil with good drainageUnited Kingdom
Flavour
Sweet heartUnited Kingdom
Texture
Crisp heartUnited Kingdom

The source context and any limitations are in the background information at the bottom.

Compare with another variety
How it could look in your garden

How to grow lettuce

The options below belong to the plant. From these, choose the method that suits your variety's growth habit.

AI illustration of kleine rijen in een tuinbed
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Short rows in a garden bed

A small lettuce row makes care manageable. Choose the right season, keep weeds away and follow leaves. Plan another batch once you see how much you actually use.

  1. Prepare a fine soil surface and remove weeds.
  2. Sow or plant at the spacing for the chosen type.
  3. Keep the germination and root zones moist and harvest according to leaf quality.

For anyone with a small bed or a space available after another harvest.

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AI illustration of een kleine saladebak bij de deur
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

A small salad container by the door

Loose-leaf lettuce suits a broad pot. Harvest only what you need and easily see when another sowing is needed. Leave enough room for light and air between rosettes.

  1. Choose loose-leaf lettuce or a confirmed compact head.
  2. Use a pot with drainage and suitable potting compost.
  3. Harvest outer leaves or whole heads according to the chosen type.

For limited space or a smaller, more accessible leaf crop.

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Even a patio planter can be a picking garden
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Take a closer look

Even a patio planter can be a picking garden

Use a roomy container with drainage holes and keep the potting compost evenly moist. Give the plants space and gradually pick the outer leaves.

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Choose a small head suited to your harvest

Little Gem is small cos lettuce, also called romaine. RHS describes firm heads with crisp, sweet hearts and mentions containers. This differs from continuous loose-leaf picking. Decide how many heads you need to give a short row a clear purpose.

Prepare an even seedbed

Lettuce has many small shallow roots. Minnesota advises moisture-retentive soil draining excess water. Prepare a fine surface for small seed and remove large clods. Container drainage matters too: retention does not mean sealed standing water.

Sow the next portion beside the first

Sow modest portions to stagger heads. RHS suggests short rows about two weeks apart for continuous harvest. Adapt repetition to real space. Record dates for each in My garden to follow sowings separately.

Let plants form their hearts

Thin crowded rows before competition. Final spacing depends on variety and desired harvest size. Check packaging and allow head room. Small cultivars need less than large icebergs but do not thereby tolerate every density.

Check soil moisture before lettuce wilts

Water stress slows head development and can reduce leaf quality. Regularly feel the soil in the root zone. Water when needed, then reassess conditions. Pots and beds respond differently; use the weather forecast as a prompt to check, alongside your own observations.

Recognise the start of a flower stem

Prolonged warmth, abundant light and drought can bolt lettuce, shifting leaves to flowers and often greater bitterness. Iowa advises another crop once conditions improve. Little Gem's compactness proves no protection against bolting or all summer conditions.

Harvest a useful small portion

Assess the head and harvest once sufficiently formed for your use. Cos lettuce need not stand indefinitely. Remove ripe heads while leaf quality is good. Keep cool and avoid unnecessary damage between garden and kitchen.

Compare heads and their conditions

Record Little Gem's start, position, moisture checks and harvest time, plus flavour and portion preferences. Simultaneous heads in different pots may differ. Keep personal experiences beside variety data to make future choices fit your garden better.

Ready to begin

What you need

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More background, sources and image information

SeedSteps editorial team · updated on 11 October 2026. The AI images illustrate species and practical growing situations; they do not prove an exact cultivar, observations from your own garden or yield.

Britse gewasadviezen worden gecombineerd met Nederlandse en Vlaamse informatie waar beschikbaar. Amerikaanse Extension-bronnen ondersteunen plantprincipes en herkenning; hun kalenderdata, lokale plaagdruk, bestrijdingsmiddelen en mestdoseringen worden niet rechtstreeks op Nederland of Vlaanderen toegepast. Vorst, bodemwarmte, standplaats en expliciete rasinformatie blijven de lokale controle. Commerciële bronnen onderbouwen uitsluitend benoemde ras- en plantkenmerken; zij zijn geen affiliate-aanbeveling.

  1. World Checklist of Vascular Plants — 4 juni 2026Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · accessed 2026-10-07
  2. RHS-rasprofiel: Little GemRoyal Horticultural Society · accessed 2026-10-08
  3. Asiasla mesclun zaden biologischFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  4. Batavia sla Chou de NaplesFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  5. Batavia Zomersla SoissonsFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  6. Bindsla Queue de Truite (Witloof panaché) zaden biologischFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  7. Bindsla winter rood zaden biologischFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  8. Botersla ‘Speckled Amish’ (Lactuca sativa) – biologische zadenFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  9. Organic Pluksla Red Salad Bowl zadenFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  10. Organic Pluksla Salad Bowl, groen zadenFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  11. Duivelstong Romaine slaFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  12. Ijsbergsla 'Grazer Krauthäuptel' zaden biologischFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  13. Kropsla (lente-) Gotte d'Or zaden biologischFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  14. Kropsla (zomer-) Grosse Blonde Paresseuse zaden biologischFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  15. Mesclun aziatische mix – biologische slazaden (doorplukker)Feggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  16. Pluksla red salad – biologische slazaden (doorplukker)Feggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  17. Romaanse sla 'Red Cos' zaden BiologischFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  18. Snijsla Biscia RossaFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  19. Snijsla Geel Eikenblad zadenFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  20. Snijsla gemengd zadenFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  21. Snijsla Lollo Rossa zadenFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  22. Snijsla Radichetta zaden biologischFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  23. Snijsla Red VelvetFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  24. Wintersalade Rode Boterkop (Maribor) biologische zadenFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  25. Growing Leafy Greens in IowaIowa State University Extension · accessed 2026-10-08
  26. Sla kweken — RHSRoyal Horticultural Society · accessed 2026-10-08
  27. Growing lettuce, endive and radicchio in home gardensUniversity of Minnesota Extension · accessed 2026-10-08
  28. How to Grow Lettuce in Your GardenUtah State University Extension · accessed 2026-10-08
  29. RHS — sla kwekenRoyal Horticultural Society · accessed 2026-10-10
  30. USU Extension — sla in de tuinUtah State University Extension · accessed 2026-10-10

Supporting evidence by chapter: Choose a small head suited to your harvest: Royal Horticultural Society. Prepare an even seedbed: University of Minnesota Extension. Sow the next portion beside the first: Royal Horticultural Society. Let plants form their hearts: Royal Horticultural Society. Check soil moisture before lettuce wilts: Utah State University Extension. Recognise the start of a flower stem: Iowa State University Extension. Harvest a useful small portion: Utah State University Extension. Compare heads and their conditions: Royal Horticultural Society, Utah State University Extension.

Variety type: Dwarf cos (romaine); small, firm heads Rasspecifieke RHS-beschrijving in Britse omstandigheden. Groei, smaak en oogstmoment kunnen in jouw tuin afwijken. Royal Horticultural Society

Light: Full sun Rasspecifieke RHS-beschrijving in Britse omstandigheden. Groei, smaak en oogstmoment kunnen in jouw tuin afwijken. Royal Horticultural Society

Main colour: Green leaf Rasspecifieke RHS-beschrijving in Britse omstandigheden. Groei, smaak en oogstmoment kunnen in jouw tuin afwijken. Royal Horticultural Society

Suitable for pots: Yes Rasspecifieke RHS-beschrijving in Britse omstandigheden. Groei, smaak en oogstmoment kunnen in jouw tuin afwijken. Royal Horticultural Society

Soil: Moisture-retentive soil with good drainage Rasspecifieke RHS-beschrijving in Britse omstandigheden. Groei, smaak en oogstmoment kunnen in jouw tuin afwijken. Royal Horticultural Society

Flavour: Sweet heart Rasspecifieke RHS-beschrijving in Britse omstandigheden. Groei, smaak en oogstmoment kunnen in jouw tuin afwijken. Royal Horticultural Society

Texture: Crisp heart Rasspecifieke RHS-beschrijving in Britse omstandigheden. Groei, smaak en oogstmoment kunnen in jouw tuin afwijken. Royal Horticultural Society