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Jessie Keith
Asteraceae
LACTUCA sativa 'Ruben's Red'
Cos Lettuce, Romaine Lettuce, Rubin's Red Romaine Lettuce
The heirloom romaine lettuce, ‘Ruben’s Red’, produces compact, open heads of fresh, crisp lettuce. The leaves are upright, frilly and burgundy red on the exterior, but the hearts are bright green. Though moderately heat tolerant and slow to bolt, it still grows and tastes best if grown in cool, temperate weather. The leaves or heads are ready to harvest in 50 to 60 days after planting.
Lettuce is a cool season, annual vegetable and there are many forms, colors and types. Romaine (Cos) lettuce is known for its dense elongated heads of thickly ribbed leaves that are the main ingredient of Caesar’s salads. When temperatures warm up, the whole leafy clump elongates and grows upwards. At this stage they are no longer good eating. When fully elongated they become topped with tall branched stems covered with pale yellow flowers followed by fluffy white seedheads. Seed savers should collect the mature seeds for another planting.
In temperate zones lettuce is favored as a spring and fall crop and in frost-free, southern zones it is grown as a winter crop. Full sun and light, fertile, nutrient-rich soil and regular water are needed for good production and performance. Plant lettuce seeds in succession for a longer harvest period. Once plants begin to bolt, pull them or allow them to set seed for collection.
This cultivar may be sold under various names including ‘Rubin’, ‘Red Rubin’, or ‘Ruben.’
12 - 1
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun
8"-12" / 20.3cm - 30.5cm
Indeterminate
Northern Europe, Northern Africa, Asia
Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Very Fast
Average Water
Clump-Forming
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Insignificant
Light Yellow
Tan, Brown
Green, Light Green
No
Single
Yes
Coarse
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Butterflies
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