Little Gem Darky

Family: Asteraceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Little Gem Darky to a garden.

Sweet, crisp hearts emerge in compact rosettes—Little Gem Darky brings a velvety, deep-green beauty with a tender crunch that feels almost luminous.

Leaves are richly colored and finely textured, forming a mini romaine head that stays pleasantly snappy as it matures in cool weather. Ideal for fresh salads and garnishes, it also shines in quick tosses and bright, leaf-forward bowls where its compact stature and clean flavor are the star.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Little Gem Darky

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Little Gem Darky Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	May 4th	Jun 1st	Jul 26th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Jul 19th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 9th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 13th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jul 7th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jun 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jun 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jun 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jun 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	May 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	May 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	Apr 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Apr 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Little Gem Darky gives you mini romaine attitude: sweet, crisp hearts with enough body to hold dressing and stay snappy even as it sits a little. It’s built for last-minute dressing and quick heat—use it where you want crunch first, not wilting greens.

Best Uses

ice-cold wedges dressed at the last second so the rosette stays tight and crunchy
quick sautés with garlic and a splash of stock—cook just until glossy but not limp
leaf-forward bowls with vinaigrette or a lemony yogurt dressing
garnish for sandwiches and burgers where you want a clean, snappy bite without weeping

Flavor Profile

sweet, cool crunch tender romaine bitterness kept in check deep-green, lightly earthy finish snappy, compact leaf texture that stays crisp

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette Parmesan balsamic vinegar anchovy grilled chicken garlic-yogurt sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Lactuca sativa (Little Gem) leaves developing sticky patches and dark mold, and what should I do?

Sticky residue with black sooty mold on Little Gem lettuce is often caused by aphids. Check the undersides of leaves and hose aphids off with a strong water jet, then release/plant beneficials if available or spray with insecticidal soap in the evening (follow label rates). Remove heavily infested outer leaves to break the cycle and improve airflow so mold doesn’t keep spreading.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa (Little Gem) during the main growing phase?

Keep lettuce evenly moist from transplanting through heading, aiming for consistently damp (not waterlogged) soil. In typical home gardens, that often means watering 1–2 times per week, but increase to 2–4 times per week during hot weather to prevent leaf tip burn and bolting. Use short, thorough watering so moisture reaches the root zone, and avoid letting the soil dry out completely between waterings.

How can I tell when my Lactuca sativa (Little Gem) is ready to harvest?

Little Gem lettuce is usually ready about 55 days after sowing and should feel firm, compact, and “tight-headed” when you gently squeeze it. Harvest when the head is fully formed but before it starts to stretch upward or flower, which signals bolting and a bitter taste. Cut the head at the base in the morning for the crispest leaves.