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lettuce crisp great lakes over 100 seeds

All Plants, Veggies

Lettuce Crisp Great Lakes – Over 100 Seeds

R15.00

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Over 100 Lettuce (Crisp Great Lakes) Seeds
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Proudly non-GMO
ECO-FRIENDLY: Biodegradable packaging with resealable, reusable plastic Ziplock bag inside
Made in South Africa, for South Africa

Availability: 207 in stock

Categories: All Plants, Veggies Tags: beginner friendly, cool plants, farming, frost resistant, full sun, garden, leafy greens, medicinal, non gmo, plants, seeds, shade, spinach, summer, veggies, winter, year round

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Baby Lettuce (Great Lakes Crisphead) Seeds | Heirloom & Non-GMO (Over 100 Seeds)

Grow a continuous supply of crisp, sweet, and crunchy salad greens right at home.

This premium seed pack contains over 100 high-germination, non-GMO heirloom seeds of the legendary Great Lakes crisphead lettuce variety (Lactuca sativa).

Specially selected for its outstanding performance in the South African climate, it is the ultimate choice for backyard vegetable patches, raised garden beds, and container gardening.

While Great Lakes is famous for growing into tight, crunchy iceberg-style heads, it is also highly prized as a “baby leaf” lettuce.

By planting the seeds closely, you can harvest exceptionally tender, crinkled baby green leaves in just a few weeks for premium, restaurant-quality summer salads.

Why Choose Our Heirloom Great Lakes Lettuce Seeds?

Over 100 Premium Seeds: A generous pack size that gives you excellent value for money.
100% Heirloom & Non-GMO: Pure, natural plant genetics that allow you to harvest and save your own seeds for future seasons.
Excellent Heat & Burn Tolerance: Unlike delicate European varieties, Great Lakes stands up remarkably well to hot South African afternoons without turning bitter or scorching at the leaf edges.
Slow to Bolt: Stays sweet and usable for longer, resisting the urge to prematurely go to seed when temperatures rise.
Crunchiest Texture: Delivers that iconic, crisp, watery crunch that makes it the perfect base for braai side salads and burger toppings.

South African Planting & Growing Guide

Great Lakes is a highly adaptable variety, making it exceptionally reliable across South Africa’s distinct climate zones:

When to Plant

Highveld & Inland: Sow from August to March. Avoid sowing during extreme mid-winter frosts unless grown under frost cloth or indoors.

Western Cape: Sow from September to April as the spring and summer weather warms up, or year-round in sheltered conditions.

Subtropical Regions (KZN/Lowveld): Plant during the cooler autumn and winter months (March to August) to avoid severe summer humidity and pest pressure.

Position: Full sun during cooler months; partial afternoon shade is highly recommended during intense South African summer heatwaves.
Sowing Depth: 3mm to 5mm deep (Lettuce seeds need a little bit of light to trigger germination, so cover them very lightly).
Spacing for Baby Leaves: Sow seeds 2cm apart in rows. No thinning is required if you intend to harvest them strictly as young baby greens.
Germination Time: 7 to 10 days.
Days to Harvest: Pick tender baby leaves in 30 to 35 days, or wait 75 to 85 days for full, tightly wrapped crispheads.

Quick Gardening Tips for Success

Watering: Lettuce is made mostly of water. Keep the soil consistently moist with short, daily waterings. Dry soil instantly triggers bitterness in the leaves.

Soil: Provide loose, rich, well-draining soil mixed with organic compost. Lettuce has shallow roots and struggles in heavy, compacted clay.

Harvesting Baby Leaves: Use scissors to snip off the outer leaves when they reach 5cm long.

Leave the inner crown intact, and the plant will grow fresh leaves for multiple future harvests.

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How to Grow Lettuce from Seed

How to Grow Crisphead Lettuce from Seed: The South African Guide

There is nothing quite like the crunch of fresh, homegrown lettuce.

While many gardeners find lettuce intimidating due to our harsh sun, the Great Lakes Crisphead variety is incredibly resilient and perfectly suited to South African conditions.

Whether you want to harvest sweet baby leaves in a few weeks or grow massive, tightly wrapped heads for the family braai, this step-by-step guide will ensure your success.

When to Sow Lettuce Seeds in South Africa

Lettuce prefers mild temperatures, but the heat-tolerant genetics of the Great Lakes variety give you a wide planting window:

Highveld & Inland Regions: Sow from August to March. Avoid the dead of winter unless you are growing indoors or under heavy frost cloth.

Western Cape: Sow from September to April. Shading your plants from the intense afternoon summer sun will prolong your harvest.

Subtropical Regions (KZN Coast & Lowveld): Plant strictly during the cooler autumn and winter months (March to August) to avoid severe humidity and rot.

Step-by-Step Sowing Guide

Lettuce seeds can be started in seedling trays or sown directly into the soil. Because they have delicate roots, container growing or direct sowing is highly recommended for baby leaves.

1. Soil Preparation

Lettuce has a shallow root system and needs loose, rich soil. Dig plenty of well-rotted organic compost into your garden bed.

If planting in pots, use a premium potting soil mixed with a handful of compost.

2. The Golden Rule: Light Germination

Depth: Make shallow indents in the soil only 3mm to 5mm deep.

The Secret: Lettuce seeds require light to trigger germination! Cover them with a paper-thin layer of fine soil or vermiculite. If you bury them too deep, they will sleep forever and never sprout.

Spacing for Baby Leaves: Drop seeds 2cm apart. No thinning is required if you are harvesting them young.

3. Water Wisely

Water the soil using a gentle spray bottle or a fine rose watering can. The soil must remain consistently damp—like a wrung-out sponge—but never waterlogged.

Your seedlings will pop up within 7 to 10 days.

Ongoing Care and Continuous Harvesting

The Sunlight Trick: While lettuce loves sun, intense South African summer heatwaves will cause it to go bitter or “bolt” (produce seeds). Plant your lettuce where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade.

Watering: Lettuce is over 95% water. Short, daily morning waterings are far better than one massive weekly drenching. Dry soil instantly triggers a bitter taste.

The “Cut-and-Come-Again” Harvest: You don’t have to wait for a full head to form! Once your baby leaves reach 5cm to 8cm long (about 30 days), snip the outer leaves off with scissors.

Leave the inner crown intact, and the plant will grow fresh leaves for weeks.

Lettuce Medicinal / Nutritional Uses

Lettuce Nutritional Benefits & Medicinal Uses

While lettuce is often viewed simply as a crisp base for salads, the Great Lakes Crisphead variety offers surprising medicinal and health properties that make it a highly valuable addition to your daily diet.

The Key Wellness Benefits of Lettuce

1. High Hydration & Low Glycemic Index

Consisting almost entirely of structured plant water, fresh lettuce is an exceptional tool for staying hydrated during hot South African summers.

With a near-zero glycemic index and minimal calories, it is perfect for weight management and stabilizing blood sugar levels for individuals with diabetes.

2. Promotes Deep, Restful Sleep

Historically, lettuce has been used as a mild natural sedative. The stems and leaves of the plant contain a milky sap called lactucarium.

This compound possesses safe, mild sedative properties that help relax the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and promote better sleep quality.

Eating a bowl of fresh greens with dinner is an excellent, natural sleep aid.

3. Rich in Bone-Building Vitamin K

Just a small serving of crisp lettuce provides a vital dose of Vitamin K1.

This micronutrient is absolutely essential for bone mineralization and working alongside calcium to maintain a strong skeletal structure as we age.

4. Natural Eye Protection

Great Lakes lettuce contains essential carotenoids, including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

These antioxidants travel straight to the retina, helping to shield your eyes from high-energy blue light emitted by digital screens and protecting against age-related macular degeneration.

Lettuce Other Names

Lettuce Other Names & Botanical History

Unpacking the historical names of lettuce reveals a fascinating journey from ancient royal gardens straight to your backyard vegetable patch.

The Names Behind the Leaf

Scientific Name: Lactuca sativa

The Meaning of “Lactuca”: The botanical genus name Lactuca comes directly from the Latin word for milk (lac). This refers to the bitter, milky white sap that oozes out of the stems when the plant is cut or when it begins to bolt.

The Origin of “Lettuce”: The ancient Roman word Lactuca evolved through Old French (laitues) before transforming into the modern English word we use today:

Lettuce.Crisphead or Iceberg?

The Great Lakes variety belongs to the Crisphead family.

In commercial grocery stores, these are universally called Iceberg lettuce.

They earned this nickname in the 1920s in North America, where farmers had to cover the tightly wrapped lettuce heads in massive piles of crushed ice to keep them fresh while shipping them across the country on trains.

Regional Cultural Names:

Slaai / Slaaiblare: In Afrikaans, lettuce is historically known as slaai, which also functions as the general local word for any salad dish.

Letisi: Adopted directly into several indigenous South African languages (such as Sotho and Tswana) as a localized, phonetic translation of the word lettuce.

Lettuce Crisp Great Lakes – Over 100 Seeds

Baby Lettuce (Great Lakes Crisphead) Seeds | Heirloom & Non-GMO (Over 100 Seeds)