Red Salad Bowl
Lactuca sativa 'Red Salad Bowl'
The stunning burgundy-red counterpart to the famous Green Salad Bowl, featuring the same deeply-lobed oak leaves but with gorgeous wine-red coloration that intensifies in cool weather. This loose-leaf variety provides continuous harvests while adding dramatic color contrast to salads and garden beds. The tender leaves maintain their sweet flavor even as the red pigmentation deepens with maturity.
Harvest
50-60d
Days to harvest
Sun
'Allstar Mix'
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
6-12 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Red Salad Bowl in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 lettuce →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Red Salad Bowl · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: 'Allstar Mix', 'Bibb', 'Black-seeded Simpson', 'Buttercrunch', 'Green Oakleaf', 'Ithaca', 'Jericho', Lactuca sativa var. augustana ('Celtuce'), 'New Red Fire', 'Pennlake', 'Red Sails', 'Salinas'. Soil: High Organic Matter. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Tiny seeds with a dandelion-like tuft (pappus) to aid in wind dispersal.
Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Edibility: Leaves can be used raw or cooked in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. Head lettuce can be stored for 2-3 weeks while leaf and butterhead store for 1-2 weeks.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Red Salad Bowl lettuce immediately in the refrigerator at 32-40°F with high humidity (95-98%). Wash leaves gently in cold water, spin dry, and store in perforated plastic bags or containers lined with paper towels. Properly stored leaves maintain quality for 7-10 days.
For optimal freshness, store whole leaves rather than chopped pieces, which deteriorate faster. The variety's tender texture makes it unsuitable for traditional preservation methods like canning or freezing, but you can successfully dehydrate young leaves at 95°F for crispy salad toppers.
Red Salad Bowl makes excellent microgreens—harvest seedlings at 2-3 inches tall for intense flavor and color. These store for 5-7 days refrigerated and can be frozen in ice cubes for colorful drink garnishes.
History & Origin
Origin: Mediterranean to Siberia
Advantages
- +Edible: Leaves can be used raw or cooked in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. Head lettuce can be stored for 2-3 weeks while leaf and butterhead store for 1-2 weeks.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Sap/Juice): Low severity
- -Causes contact dermatitis
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Chives
Repels aphids and improves lettuce flavor while providing pest protection
Radishes
Break up soil for lettuce roots and mature quickly without competing for space
Carrots
Different root depths prevent competition and carrots help aerate soil for lettuce
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and other pests while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting lettuce
Garlic
Natural pest deterrent that repels aphids and other soft-bodied insects
Spinach
Similar growing requirements and provides natural ground cover to retain soil moisture
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects and provides natural pest control without competing for nutrients
Keep Apart
Broccoli
Large leaves create excessive shade and compete heavily for soil nutrients
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit lettuce growth and development
Sunflowers
Create too much shade and have allelopathic effects that stunt lettuce growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346388)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good bolt resistance, moderate disease tolerance
Common Pests
Aphids, leaf miners, slugs, flea beetles
Diseases
Downy mildew, lettuce mosaic virus, tipburn