It's hard not to love this easy-to-grow lettuce. The stunning bright green leaves are dusted with almost iridescent bronze tips. "Australe" reminds us of a cross between a traditional butterhead due to its buttery texture and a mini romaine because of its upright growing habit. Harvest as baby greens around 21 days or as a full head at 55 days.

Days to Maturity: 21-55 days

Family: Asteraceae

Type: Butterhead Lettuce (Learn more)

Native: Unknown; lettuce has been in cultivation for a long time

Hardiness: Frost-tolerant annual

Exposure: Full sun to part shade. Extend the growing period by growing where taller plants will shade the lettuce from the late afternoon sun.

Plant Dimensions: 8"-9" wide, 7"-8" tall

Variety Info: A mid-sized butterhead lettuce with bright green leaves with bronze tips. Soft, buttery leaves on a compact head that exhibits more of an upright habit than typical butterheads.

Attributes: Frost Tolerant

When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 40°F, ideally 60°-70°F. Successive Sowings: Every 3 weeks until 4 to 6 weeks before your average first fall frost date. Mild Climates: Sow in fall and winter for cool-season harvests.

When to Start Inside: 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, and in summer when soil temperatures are too warm (above 80°F) to germinate lettuce seed.

Days to Emerge: 5-10 days

Seed Depth: Surface to 1/8"

Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 6"

Row Spacing: 8"

Thinning: When 1/2" tall, thin to 1 every 6"

Harvesting: Harvest in the morning, by cutting off at ground level. If regrowth is desired, cut the leaves higher, at 2". For a continual supply, outer, individual leaves can be harvested at any stage of maturity, but leave at least half of the plant for regrowth.

Special Care: Rotate lettuce and other crops in the Asteraceae family so they are not grown in the same spot more than once in 3 years. If corky root disease is a problem in your area, start seed indoors, avoid fertilizing with high-nitrogen fertilizers, and use proper rotation methods.