Bronze Guard Loose Leaf Lettuce Seeds

Heirloom Bronze Guard Lettuce Seeds - Unique Bronze Lettuce Color and Crisp Taste
Lactuca sativa
Listing is for 1 packet of minimum 25 seeds

Bronze Guard loose leaf lettuce is a unique heirloom variety admired for its warm bronze-tinted leaves and crisp, tender texture. Perfect for adding a vibrant pop of color to salads and garnishes, this variety boasts a mildly sweet flavor that pairs well with countless dishes. Renowned for its resilience, Bronze Guard thrives in various climates, producing abundant growth throughout the season with minimal effort. For best results, sow the seeds in fertile, well-draining soil and maintain consistent moisture—being careful not to overwater. Offering partial shade during hot afternoons can help prevent bolting, ensuring a steady supply of fresh leaves all summer long. Simply harvest by snipping from the outside inward, allowing new growth to continue growing. 

Ideal Growing Conditions

Sun: Does best getting 6 hours of sun a day. Grow in partial shade in hot climates.

Water: Keep the soil consistently moist

Fertilizer: Add some blood meal into the planting hole before transplanting or work some into the soil before direct sowing seeds. This one time application of fertilizer should be enough for the entire growing season. 

When & How To Sow Seeds: For a spring crop: direct sow after your last spring frost date, or sow seeds in pots, 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost date. For a fall crop, direct sow seeds 3-4 months before your first winter frost date. Sprinkle a few seeds over the soil surface, pat down, cover with 1/4 inch of soil, and water in. Can follow square foot gardening guidelines to space 4 lettuce plants per square foot, or plant each one 10 to 12 inches apart. 

Germination: 7-10 days

Days To Maturity: 50 days after direct sowing the seed 

How & When To Harvest: This is a loose leaf lettuce. Harvest individual leaves as needed. Leave the plant intact so it will continue growing new leaves.

Common Diseases: The most common disease when growing lettuce is downy mildew. It thrives in cool, wet conditions and can spread rapidly, causing yellow spots on the leaves that eventually turn brown and die. Proper plant spacing to improve air flow helps. Spray with 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water every 3 to 5 days until you notice the spread has stopped. 

Common Pests: Critters like rabbits love to munch on lettuce plants. Protection from small animals might be required. The most common pest when growing lettuce is aphids. Use a strong spray of water to dislodge aphids from the leaves. For more severe infestations, spray with organic insecticidal soap or spinosad. 

Do I have a YouTube video tutorial on how to grow this? YES

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/GEoQABbo9tM

Additional Tips/Information: N/A