What are the sun requirements for Lactuca sativa 'Red Oak Leaf'?

Lactuca sativa 'Red Oak Leaf' requires Part Sun.

How much water does Lactuca sativa 'Red Oak Leaf' need?

Lactuca sativa 'Red Oak Leaf' has Medium water needs.

Lactuca sativa 'Red Oak Leaf'

Red Oak Leaf Lettuce

Cultivar of garden origin; the species L. sativa is domesticated from L. serriola, native to the Mediterranean and western Asia

At a Glance

TypeAnnual

HabitMounding

FoliageDeciduous

Height6-8 inches (15-20 cm)

Width8-10 inches (20-25 cm)

Maturity1 years

Key Features

Container Friendly

Maintenancelow

Overview

Lactuca sativa 'Red Oak Leaf' is Red Oak Leaf lettuce, a loose-leaf annual forming a rosette 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) tall and 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) wide. Deeply lobed oak-leaf-shaped leaves with burgundy-red margins transitioning to deep green at the base — the red color deepens in cooler temperatures and with more sun exposure. The red pigments are anthocyanins. A loose-leaf type (does not form a head). In the daisy family (Asteraceae). One of the faster-maturing lettuces at 45-55 days from seed (baby leaf harvest at 25-30 days). More heat-tolerant than most lettuce cultivars — slower to bolt than butterhead and crisphead types. Cool-season crop but tolerates warmer conditions than 'Buttercrunch.' Sow early spring through fall — succession-sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Tolerates light frost to 28°F (-2°C). Cut-and-come-again on outer leaves, or harvest the full plant. The genus name Lactuca references the milky latex sap. Slugs, aphids, and rabbits are the primary pests. Not deer-resistant. Non-toxic (edible crop). Full sun to partial shade. Annual. Growth rate is fast.

Native Range

Cultivar of garden origin. The species L. sativa is domesticated from L. serriola, native to the Mediterranean and western Asia.

Suggested Uses

Grown in vegetable gardens, raised beds, and containers of at least 1 gallon (4 L). The red oak-leaf shape adds color to salad mixes. More heat-tolerant than most lettuce. Succession-sow. Non-toxic. Annual.

How to Identify

Identified by deeply lobed oak-leaf-shaped leaves with burgundy-red margins and deep green bases in a loose rosette (no head). The oak-leaf shape and the anthocyanin red coloring distinguish Red Oak Leaf from green-leaf and butterhead types. In Asteraceae.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 8"

Width/Spread8" - 10"

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

red

burgundy

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bolts in sustained heat above 75 degrees F (24 degrees C) — pale yellow composite flowers on a stalk. Bolting makes the leaves bitter. Flowering is undesirable. More heat-tolerant than most lettuce.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Pale yellow composite flowers on a bolting stalk — undesirable

Foliage Description

Burgundy-red margins transitioning to deep green at the base; oak-leaf shaped (deeply lobed) with prominent light-colored midribs; the red color deepens in cooler temperatures and with more sun exposure

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun Partial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

45-55 days from seed to full size; 25-30 days for baby leaf

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Full sun to partial shade. Moist rich soil pH 6.0-7.0. Cool-season crop — more heat-tolerant than butterhead types. Succession-sow every 2-3 weeks. Tolerates light frost (28 degrees F / -2 degrees C). Slugs, aphids, rabbits. Non-toxic. Annual.

Pruning

Harvest outer leaves by cut-and-come-again starting at 25-30 days, or harvest the full plant at 45-55 days. Remove the bolting stalk if it appears. Succession-sow for continuous supply.