31 Best Lettuce Varieties to Grow at Home (With Pictures)

Lettuce comes in a wide range of textures, colors, and flavors, and most varieties are relatively easy to grow on your own. As such, it’s a great idea to grow some lettuce at your home. They will provide you with a nutritious vegetable packed with flavor, nutrients, and texture.

So, what lettuce varieties should you begin growing? Take a look at 31 of the best lettuce varieties below.

The 31 Lettuce Varieties

1. Ithaca Iceberg Lettuce

Ithaca Iceberg Lettuce is one of the most classic iceberg varieties. It doesn’t have a lot of taste, but it has a fantastic texture. It also grows very easily in gardens where there are a lot of pests. Just remove the damaged outer layers before eating.

2. Crisphead Great Lakes

Crisphead Great Lakes is great for hot areas. It produces dense, crunchy lettuce that can withstand great heat and mold. You can buy it in many packets and sizes for convenient planting.

3. Hanson Improved

Another great heat tolerant variety is Hanson Improved. It also has a surprisingly mild, sweet flavor for an iceberg variety, all while being classically crisp.

4. Igloo

Igloo is a crisphead variety that is fast to mature. It only takes 70 days to mature from start to finish, and it can thrive in warmer months. It has a great crunch and a pretty good head size.

5. Coastline Summer Crisp

Coastline Summer Crisp has long stems and small frilly leaves. This variety is predictable, easy to grow, and stress-free. These leaves are perfect if you want a bit of ornamentation on your plates.

6. Webbs Wonderful

Webbs Wonderful is a crisphead variety that originated in England. The outer leaves are soft and crumpled, but the inside is crisp. They mature pretty quickly in just 72 days and withstand heat pretty well.

7. Bibb

Bibb is the most known butterhead lettuce. There are a variety of Bibb subspecies, all of which would make a great addition to your garden and salads. Make sure that the lettuce gets full sun. Luckily, it is a little heat resistant.

8. Tom Thumb

Tom Thumb is a unique lettuce variety because it has a slightly nutty flavor. This nutty flavor makes a great addition to salads. If you want to grow Tom Thumb, you should have a full sun location.

9. Bronze Mignonette

There’s nothing like adding a bit of color to your salad with a great lettuce variety. The Bronze Mignonette is crisp but has purple-tinted leaves, making it beautiful and tasty. It matures in just 65–70 days.

10. Buttercrunch

Buttercrunch has won many awards because it has rich leaves that have some red tinting, making for a tasty and bold salad. This variety is super easy to grow in most environments and it matures in 65 days.

11. Dynamite

Dynamite is a great option if you have a pest-riddled garden. It is very resistant to aphids, viruses, and mold. It isn’t as heat resistant as other varieties, but it has a very sweet flavor that is also crisp.

12. Four Seasons

If you live in a cold area, Four Seasons may be right for you. The leaves are highly attractive, and they taste sweet. Given that Four Seasons are cold resistant, you should not select this variety if you live in a hot area.

13. Yugoslavian Red

Yugoslavian Red is a stunning variety with burgundy and yellow colors. It is decent in cold locations and has a sweet flavor. It also comes again the same season if you begin harvesting early in the season.

14. Little Caesar

Romaine is one of the most popular lettuce varieties. If you like classic romaine, definitely check out Little Caesar. It is small but great for a Caesar salad for one, after which it is named.

15. Paris White

Another classic Romain is Paris White. This is the variety that most people think of when they imagine romaine lettuce. It takes longer to grow than most varieties but is the perfect pick if you want classic romaine.

16. Cimarron

Cimarron is sometimes called red romaine, and it has a sweet flavor and crisp texture. It matures quickly and is heat resistant. Surprisingly, it is also frost resistant to a degree.

17. EZ Serve

EZ Serve is a newer variety that was just introduced in 2008. This option is great because you just snap off the leaf at the base of the stem. This makes the variety super easy to grow and eat. Note that you can only buy this variety through Burpee.

18. Forellenschluss

This romaine variety is native to Austria. Its name can be translated to “Speckled like a trout.” As you might expect, this variety has speckles or wine-red spots. Forellenschluss is great because it has an almost sweet flavor that is buttery and delicious.

19. Little Gem

If you have a smaller garden, check out Little Gem. It is super small and only takes 50 days to mature. Still, its flavor is crisp and delicious, making it great for small salads for one.

20. Parris Island

Parris Island is native to South Carolina. It is a hybrid variety that is resistant to tip burn. This is an awesome pick if you love baby greens. When fully grown, the flavor is mild with a crisp texture.

21. Vivian

If you need a large lettuce variety, Vivian is likely right for you. Its leaves are giant and take up to 70 days to fully mature. This variety prefers cooler weather. The flavor is mild and slightly sweet, but its texture is more delicate.

22. Green Ice

Green Ice is one of the best loose-leaf varieties. It has the crunch of a crisp head and the attractive, rustling look of loose leaves. It is heat resistant with a sweet flavor. If you need a variety that’s great for just about everything, Green Ice is your pick.

23. Black Seeded Simpson

Black Seeded Simpson is awesome if you want versatile lettuce. It is crispy but also sweet and mild. So, you can use it as a salad or add it as texture to different dishes.

24. Deer Tongue

Deer Tongue is a relatively versatile variety. Its leaves are super tasty, making them great for salad. The outside leaves are mild and softer, whereas the inside leaves are a bit firmer with a more noticeable taste, allowing you to use different parts of the plant to your advantage.

25. Grand Rapids

The Grand Rapids are frilly and make a great garnish, but you can add them to a salad as well. The texture is juicy and crisp, and the leaves have a slightly sweet flavor. This variety matures in just 50 days.

26. Ruby

Ruby is one of the most notable lettuce varieties because it has a deep burgundy color. Even in hot weather, it will stay dark burgundy. This isn’t always the most palatable flavor, but it makes a beautiful garnish.

27. Lollo Rosso

Lollo Rosso is a bitter variety that can begin harvesting leaves after 30 days. It is mostly known for its bright purple and burgundy colors. As such, this is a fantastic variety for garnish, but some people like the flavor for a salad too.

28. Prizehead

Prizehead is similar to Lollo Rosso. It has burgundy colors that will add a pop of color to your plate. The texture is crunchy, and it has sweet flavors, making it more palatable than Lollo Rosso for many.

29. Red Sails

Red Sails is a classic American red variety. It has a soft texture and a mild flavor. This variety is known for being super easy to grow, making it a great pick for individuals who want lettuce that is palatable and beautiful to look at.

30. Bronze Guard

Bronze Guard is a very classic loose-leaf variety. It is flavorful but slightly bitter and has juicy leaves. It’s best to incorporate this variety with other leaves for a rounder flavor that is more delicious.

31. Oakleaf

Oakleaf has a unique appearance because the leaves are small and lobed. They also have a dark purple color. This variety is great for garnish, but you can use them in salads too. It’s best to pair this variety with fruit, nuts, and other delicious flavors.

How to Select the Best Lettuce for Your Home

Whenever you are selecting lettuce for your garden, it’s important to think about your growing conditions, experience, and ideal flavor.

Begin by thinking about the growing conditions in your area. Do you expect the area to be hot or cold? From there, look at varieties that are equipped to grow in your area. Narrow down the selection by looking at varieties that fit your growing skills.

Make the final selection by looking for lettuce varieties that fit your ideal texture and flavor. Some lettuce will be sweet and juicy, whereas others may be crunchy and bitter. There’s no wrong answer when it comes to the flavor. Just make sure to select a variety you know you’ll enjoy.

Conclusion

Now that you know the 31 top lettuce varieties, it’s time to get growing. Select a variety based on your location, experience, and ideal flavor. Then, find some seeds and get started.

Featured Image Credit: arina krasnikova, Pexels