Lettuce 'Little Gem'

Where to Plant
Plant Lettuce 'Little Gem' in a sunny position in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Lettuce grows best when it can develop steadily without drying out, so choose a spot where you can keep the soil consistently moist during warmer weather.

Planting
Plant the young lettuces into their final growing position, spacing them around 15cm apart, with approximately 25–30cm between rows. Gently settle the soil around the roots and water thoroughly after planting. The compact plants can also be fitted into gaps between slower-growing vegetables where they won't become heavily shaded or overcrowded.

Watering & Feeding
Keep the soil consistently moist, particularly during warm or dry weather. Lettuce has relatively shallow roots and allowing plants to dry out can slow growth and encourage premature bolting. Water around the base of the plants where possible rather than repeatedly soaking the leaves.

In fertile soil, 'Little Gem' shouldn't need heavy feeding. If growth needs a boost, apply a balanced vegetable fertiliser, following the manufacturer's recommended rate.

Growing in Containers
'Little Gem' is an excellent lettuce for pots because its compact heads take up relatively little room. Space plants around 15cm apart in larger containers and keep the compost regularly watered. Pots can dry out quickly in warm weather, so check them frequently during summer.

Successional Planting
If you have plants arriving at different times, plant smaller batches at intervals rather than filling every available space at once. This helps spread your harvest so you can enjoy freshly picked lettuces over a longer period.

Pests & Problems
Slugs and snails are particularly fond of young lettuce plants, so check regularly for damage. 'Little Gem' has resistance to lettuce root aphid, although it can still be affected by problems such as downy mildew and grey mould. Good spacing and airflow around plants can help reduce problems.

Good Companions
The compact habit of Lettuce 'Little Gem' makes it easy to grow alongside other vegetables. Tuck plants between crops such as spring onions, carrots, beetroot and peas, provided they'll still receive enough light and aren't crowded by neighbouring plants.

Make the Most of Your Space
You don't need a dedicated lettuce bed. Grow 'Little Gem' in gaps in your vegetable patch or raised beds, or add a few plants to larger mixed edible containers. Its compact size makes it particularly handy when growing space is limited.

Keep Crops Coming
Planting smaller batches at intervals can help avoid having every lettuce ready at the same time. Once you've harvested a head, the space can be used for another quick-growing salad crop or a vegetable that will mature later in the season.

Crop Rotation
Where practical, avoid growing lettuce in exactly the same spot year after year. Moving crops around your vegetable patch can help reduce the build-up of soil-borne pests and diseases.

Top Tip:
Don't be tempted to overcrowd the plants just because they're compact. Giving each lettuce enough room helps it form a good-sized heart and allows air to circulate around the leaves.

When to Harvest
Harvest 'Little Gem' once the compact hearts have filled out and feel firm. There's no need to wait for them to become large – their smaller size is one of the characteristics that makes this variety so useful.

How to Harvest
Cut the whole lettuce just above soil level with a clean, sharp knife when you're ready to use it. For the crispest leaves, harvest during the cooler part of the day and enjoy as soon as possible.

Pick at the Size You Like
You can harvest younger plants for smaller, tender heads or leave them a little longer to form their characteristic dense hearts. If several are ready at once, start with the largest and leave the others to continue developing.

Don't Leave Them Too Long
Once the heads are ready, it's worth harvesting them rather than leaving mature plants sitting in the ground during hot weather. High temperatures and dry conditions can encourage lettuce to bolt.

Top Tip:
If you're growing several plants, harvest them as you need them rather than cutting the whole crop at once. You'll get to enjoy that freshly picked crunch for longer.

Flavour & Texture
'Little Gem' combines crisp leaves with a sweet, fresh flavour and a particularly crunchy heart. Its small heads are just the right size when you don't need a huge lettuce.

Best Enjoyed
Separate the leaves for salads, sandwiches and wraps, or simply halve the whole heart and dress it with your favourite vinaigrette. The firm, compact heads are also delicious halved and lightly charred or grilled, bringing out their sweetness while retaining plenty of crunch.

Preparing Your Lettuce
Remove any damaged outer leaves, trim the base and wash thoroughly in cold water. Dry the leaves well before dressing so your vinaigrette coats them rather than being diluted by excess water.

Storage
'Little Gem' is at its best freshly harvested. If you're not using it immediately, keep the unwashed head refrigerated and wash the leaves just before serving.

Plug Plants & Seedlings
Our plug plants and seedlings are healthy young plants ready to grow on or plant into their final growing position, depending on the crop. Handle them carefully when planting, water thoroughly afterwards and keep the soil evenly moist while they establish.

Garden Ready Plants
Our Garden Ready plants have been professionally grown on, making them larger and more established. They're ready to plant straight into their final growing position, giving you a useful head start towards your harvest.

Upon Arrival
Remove your plants from their packaging as soon as they arrive and check the moisture level. Water if needed and plant as soon as possible. If you can't plant immediately, keep them in a sheltered position and don't allow the roots or compost to dry out.