Lollo Di Vino

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Velvety, wine-kissed leaves unfurl in a loose rosette, their deep burgundy tones edged with a tender, frilled green—like velvet ribbon caught in a cool-season breeze.

Lollo Di Vino delivers a pleasantly crisp bite with a gentle, leafy sweetness, making it a standout for fresh salads and bright garnishes. Grow it for its heirloom charm and its dramatic color that deepens as the weather cools, reaching peak texture in about 45 days.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Rosette

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Ashburn (Zone 7a).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 23rd
Last Frost	Apr 20th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 20th
Harvest Begins	Jun 4th
Harvest Ends	Oct 20th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	45
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Lollo Di Vino’s frilly, tender-crisp texture holds up better than many delicate lettuces, so it stays snappy instead of collapsing. Its faint bitterness and wine-kissed cool finish make it crave bright acid and clean fats—think lemony vinaigrette or a slick of olive oil and Parm.

Best Uses

tossed salads where you want leaves to stay crisp under vinaigrette
as a color-forward bed for warm proteins and pan sauces
layered as a base for citrusy dressings and shaved-veg salads
wilting-lightly in quick sautés where frill texture can still bite

Flavor Profile

velvety, frilled crunch gentle leafy sweetness light bitterness with a cool, winey finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette balsamic vinegar Parmigiano-Reggiano goat cheese salmon extra-virgin olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on Lactuca sativa (Lollo di Vino), and how can I prevent and treat it?

Watch for aphids and slugs/snails, which are common on lettuce, especially in warm, humid weather or dense plantings. Rinse aphids off with a strong water jet and spot-treat with insecticidal soap, and hand-pick or use a slug bait/iron-phosphate product around the beds at dusk. If you see leaf spots or downy mildew-like issues, improve airflow by thinning to proper spacing and water at the soil line rather than over the leaves.

How often should I water Lollo di Vino during its main growing phase to keep heads from getting bitter or stressed?

During the main growth period (from when seedlings establish until harvest), keep the soil consistently evenly moist, not soggy. In most home gardens that means watering about 2–3 times per week with enough water to wet the root zone, then adjusting to daily check—only let the top 1 inch dry slightly between waterings. Because Lactuca sativa is shallow-rooted, irregular drying followed by heavy watering often leads to bitterness and leaf toughening.

How do I tell when Lollo di Vino is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 45 days from sowing when rosettes are full size and the leaves are crisp and tender rather than overly tough. For best texture, cut the outer leaves first if you want a longer picking window, or harvest the whole plant when the rosette is well developed. If leaves taste increasingly bitter as the plant gets heat-stressed, harvest immediately rather than waiting for maximum size.