Hybrid

Leonardo

Cichorium intybus

Wikimedia Commons

Chioggia type chicory with dense, 4-5" diameter heads. The flavor and bright purple color are both enhanced in the cooler fall weather. High bolt tolerance. Also available in organic seed.

Harvest

65d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

3–8

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

3-4 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Leonardo in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 lettuce →

Zone Map

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Leonardo · Zones 3–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing8-12 inches

SoilWell-drained loam with moderate fertility

WaterModerate — regular watering

SeasonSummer

FlavorSlightly bitter, complex chicory flavor with enhanced taste and color in cool fall weather.

ColorDeep purple with white ribbing

Size4-5"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	—	—	June – July	August – September
Zone 2	—	—	May – July	July – September
Zone 11	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 12	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 13	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 3	—	—	May – June	July – October
Zone 4	—	—	April – June	June – October
Zone 5	—	—	April – May	June – November
Zone 6	—	—	April – May	June – November
Zone 7	—	—	March – May	May – November
Zone 8	—	—	March – April	May – December
Zone 9	—	—	February – March	April – December
Zone 10	—	—	January – March	March – December

Succession Planting

Direct sow Leonardo every 14–21 days starting March 1 in zone 7, and keep going through late April. Once daytime highs are consistently hitting 80°F, lettuce bolts fast — Leonardo is a hybrid with decent heat tolerance, but it's not a summer lettuce. Stop succession sowings by early May and pick back up in late August for a fall run through October. The planting calendar puts harvest running all the way to November, which is achievable if you start fall successions around weeks 34–36.

For the fall window, sow every 2 weeks from August 15 through mid-September. Germination slows below 40°F, so if you're pushing into October starts, pre-chill seeds in a damp paper towel in the fridge for 24 hours before sowing — it helps break heat-induced dormancy that can linger even as temperatures cool.

Complete Growing Guide

Chioggia type chicory with dense, 4-5" diameter heads. The flavor and bright purple color are both enhanced in the cooler fall weather. High bolt tolerance. Also available in organic seed. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Leonardo is 65 days to maturity, hybrid (f1).

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High, Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Leonardo reaches harvest at 65 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 4-5" at peak.

Brown oblong and 5-ribbed achene with blunt ends. The wider end has a bristles across the top.

Color: Brown/Copper, Cream/Tan. Type: Achene.

Edibility: Leaves can be used in salads or cooked to reduce bitter flavor. Roots can be dried and used as a coffee substitute.

Storage & Preservation

Leonardo lettuce keeps best when harvested in early morning after dew dries and stored immediately at 32–35°F with 95% humidity in perforated plastic bags or breathable containers. Proper cold storage extends shelf life to 10–14 days, though peak crispness holds for about a week. For longer preservation, blanch whole heads briefly in boiling water for 2–3 minutes, then freeze in airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags for up to 8 months. Dried lettuce retains minimal culinary value but works in powdered soups or broths. Fermentation is not recommended for this variety, as the delicate leaves break down quickly. Leonardo's relatively tight head structure means the inner leaves stay protected from moisture loss better than loose-leaf varieties—don't remove outer leaves until serving, as they act as natural insulation during storage.

History & Origin

Leonardo is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Europe

Advantages

+Dense 4-5 inch heads provide substantial harvests from minimal space
+Striking purple color adds visual appeal and nutritional anthocyanins to salads
+High bolt tolerance extends harvest window into warm summer months
+Fall flavor improvement makes late-season planting especially rewarding
+Easy cultivation makes Leonardo suitable for beginning gardeners

Considerations

-Chicory's bitter taste may deter palates accustomed to mild lettuces
-Requires consistent moisture to prevent excessive bitterness and premature bolting
-Cool weather preference limits spring and summer production options

Companion Plants

Radishes and carrots are the most practical companions for Leonardo. Radishes germinate in 5–7 days and mark your rows while emitting volatile compounds that confuse flea beetles — useful since flea beetles are one of the bigger threats to young lettuce. Carrots share the bed without competing much for water or root space, and their fine, upright foliage doesn't shade out a low-growing lettuce canopy. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) at the bed edges add some aphid-deterrent effect from their limonene and linalool emissions, though the evidence there is modest. Chives and garlic work on a similar principle — allium sulfur compounds disrupt aphid host-finding — and neither crowds a lettuce planting.

Fennel produces allelopathic root exudates that suppress germination and growth in most vegetables, and lettuce is no exception; give it its own isolated spot at least 3 feet from any bed edge. Broccoli is a problem for a different reason: it's a heavy nitrogen feeder, and planted close to Leonardo it will strip that resource from the soil before your lettuce has a chance to size up, leaving it pale and slow to head.

Plant Together

Basil

Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor

Chives

Deters aphids and other soft-bodied insects with strong scent

Carrots

Deep roots don't compete with shallow lettuce roots, maximizes space

Radishes

Quick-growing, helps break up soil and deters flea beetles

Marigolds

Repels nematodes and aphids, attracts beneficial insects

Spinach

Similar growing requirements, efficient use of garden space

Garlic

Natural pest deterrent, repels aphids and slugs

Nasturtiums

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles

Parsley

Attracts beneficial insects and doesn't compete for space

Keep Apart

Broccoli

Large leaves create too much shade, competes for nutrients

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy

Nutrition Facts

Protein

0.742g(1%)

Carbs

3.37g(1%)

Fat

0.0738g(0%)

Vitamin K

20.5mcg(17%)

Iron

0.0332mg(0%)

Calcium

14.2mg(1%)

Potassium

139mg(3%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346388)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Aphids, slugs, flea beetles

Diseases

Downy mildew, root rot in poorly drained soil

Troubleshooting Leonardo

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapse at soil level within the first 7–10 days after planting — stem looks pinched or rotted at the base

Likely Causes

Damping off — a fungal complex (commonly Pythium or Rhizoctonia) that thrives in cold, waterlogged soil
Replanting in the same raised bed where lettuce has grown for 2–3 consecutive years, allowing pathogen buildup

What to Do

1.Pull and discard the dead seedlings — don't compost them
2.Let the bed surface dry out between waterings; damping off accelerates in constantly wet soil
3.Rotate lettuce out of that bed for at least one season; NC State's organic IPM guidance specifically flags repeated same-bed planting as a risk factor for seedling disease

Gray-white fuzzy coating on the undersides of leaves, with yellow patches on the upper surface

Likely Causes

Downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) — favored by cool nights below 65°F and high humidity
Dense planting at less than 8 inches apart that traps moisture around the canopy

What to Do

1.Remove and bag affected leaves immediately — spores spread fast in wet conditions
2.Space Leonardo at the full 12 inches if your beds stay humid, and switch to drip irrigation or water at the base rather than overhead in the evening
3.If pressure is heavy, apply a copper-based fungicide per label; it won't cure infected tissue but slows spread to healthy leaves

Leaves peppered with tiny irregular holes, seedlings look ragged within days of transplanting or germination

Likely Causes

Flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) — small, jumping beetles that feed aggressively on young transplants
Transplants set out without row cover during peak flea beetle season (late spring through summer)

What to Do

1.Cover new transplants immediately with floating row cover (Agribon-15 or similar) and seal the edges — flea beetles will find any gap
2.Once plants reach 4–5 inches tall and the canopy fills in, pressure typically drops to tolerable levels
3.Diatomaceous earth dusted around the base of plants can reduce adults, but row cover is the more reliable tool

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Leonardo lettuce take to harvest?▼

Leonardo lettuce reaches maturity in approximately 65 days from planting. This makes it a moderately quick-growing chicory variety, allowing you to enjoy your harvest in about 9 weeks. The exact timing can vary slightly depending on temperature and light conditions.

Is Leonardo lettuce good for beginners?▼

Yes, Leonardo is an excellent choice for beginner gardeners. It's classified as an easy-to-grow variety with high bolt tolerance, meaning it's resistant to premature flowering even in warm conditions. This forgiving nature makes it ideal for those new to vegetable gardening.

Can I grow Leonardo lettuce in containers?▼

Yes, Leonardo can be grown in containers. With its 4-5 inch head size and manageable plant spacing, it works well in pots or raised beds. Ensure containers have good drainage and are at least 8-10 inches deep to accommodate the root system.

What does Leonardo lettuce taste like?▼

Leonardo is a Chioggia-type chicory with a slightly bitter, complex flavor that becomes even more refined during cool fall weather. The purple coloring develops richer, more vibrant tones as temperatures drop, contributing to enhanced flavor complexity and visual appeal.

When is the best time to plant Leonardo lettuce?▼

Leonardo thrives in cool seasons and is particularly well-suited for fall planting. For best results, plant in late summer for a fall harvest when temperatures are cooler, enhancing both flavor and color. It can also be grown in spring, but fall planting often yields superior results.

How much space does Leonardo lettuce need between plants?▼

Leonardo lettuce typically requires 8-12 inches between plants for optimal head development. Proper spacing ensures good air circulation, reduces disease pressure, and allows each plant to develop to its full 4-5 inch diameter potential.