Lollo Rossa Darkness

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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Sink your senses into Lollo Rossa Darkness—an intensely alluring rosette of frilled leaves that reads like burgundy velvet under garden light.

Expect a crisp, tender bite with a lively, gently sweet edge, plus a deeper, darker coloration than classic Lollo types for striking salads and garnishes. Grow it for fresh, spoonable leaf salads and for vivid, color-forward bowls where its ruffled texture truly shines.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Lollo Rossa Darkness

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Lollo Rossa Darkness 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 16th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Jul 9th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 3rd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jun 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jun 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jun 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jun 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	May 25th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	May 16th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	May 7th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	Apr 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Mar 26th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th

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)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This darker Lollo leans crisp and tender rather than watery, with a sweet, clean edge that makes it stand up to sharp dressing. Choose it when you want frilly, burgundy leaves that stay crunchy and look dramatic spooned into bowls.

Best Uses

tear-and-toss salads where the frills catch vinaigrette
cold grain bowls needing a crunchy, spoonable green
use as a colorful garnish for heavier mains to cut richness

Flavor Profile

crisp, snappy bite gently sweet, lettuce-bright flavor finely frilled leaves with a tender chew slightly deeper, earthy undertone

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette feta parmesan grilled chicken hard-boiled egg olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease problem for Lactuca sativa (leaf lettuce) like Lollo Rossa Darkness, and how do I treat it?

Leaf lettuce is especially prone to downy mildew and botrytis (gray mold) when leaves stay wet and air movement is poor. Water early so foliage dries quickly, space plants so air can circulate, and remove any yellowing or gray-spotted leaves immediately. If disease is spreading, apply an approved fungicide labeled for lettuce downy mildew and rotate to a different mode of action the next round to prevent resistance.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during the main growing phase?

During the 35–45 day growth window, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently evenly moist—never waterlogged. In typical home gardens, this often means watering lightly 2–4 times per week depending on heat and container vs. bed conditions, and adjusting to prevent drying out between waterings. Mulch lightly around the plants to stabilize moisture, and avoid wetting the leaves to reduce lettuce disease pressure.

How can I tell when Lollo Rossa Darkness is ready to harvest?

Harvest about 45 days from sowing when the rosettes are firm and the outer leaves are full size for your spacing. Snip outer leaves first for a longer harvest, or harvest the whole head/rosette when it holds shape and the leaves are crisp rather than limp. If the center starts elongating or getting bitter, harvest promptly to avoid bolting flavor changes.