Lettuce - Romaine Red seeds

Lettuce Romaine Red Lactuca sativa Packet: 150 seeds Romaine Red is an upright cos lettuce with tall, crisp hearts flushed deep red-bronze over green. The leaves keep the sweet crunch of a good cos through the ribs and colour up darkest in cool weather and bright light, so it earns its place on looks as much as flavour. Like most cos types it stands well once hearted and is slow to run to seed. Sowing Sow seeds about 3 to 5mm deep, direct or in punnets. Germination takes 7 to 14 days and is quickest at a cool soil temperature of 10 to 22°C, so in summer sow into a shaded spot or start seed somewhere cool. Thin or transplant to about 20 to 25cm apart. When to Sow - Australian Climate Zones Cool & Mountain: September to March Temperate: August to April Subtropical: February to September Tropical: April to July (dry season) Arid & Semi-arid: February to April and August to October Care Grow in full sun through the cooler months, moving to partial shade in the heat to hold off bolting. Keep the soil evenly moist, as any check from dry spells turns the leaves bitter and pushes plants to seed. Feed every couple of weeks with a diluted seaweed solution or fish emulsion for soft, fast growth, and mulch to keep the roots cool. Harvest Pick baby leaves from about 4 weeks, or let the hearts fill and cut whole from around 8 to 11 weeks. Take the outer leaves as you need them and the plant keeps giving, or lift the whole head once it firms. Harvest in the cool of the morning for the crispest leaves.