Little Gem Lettuce (2026)
Compact romaine; crisp, sweet hearts.
Which zones grow Little Gem best?
Little Gem is a lettuce variety rated for zone 3 and warmer (frost-free). In colder zones, start seeds indoors earlier and use a longer-season plan; in very hot zones (9+), pick the cooler fall window. The ZIP tool below gives the exact answer for your neighborhood.
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Plan backwards — target a harvest date
Tell me when you want your first ripe lettuce and your ZIP; I'll reverse-calculate seed-start, transplant, and harvest dates for Little Gem.
Plan backwards — target a harvest date
Tell me when you want your first ripe fruit and your ZIP; I'll work out the transplant and seed-start dates for this exact variety.
Growing notes
- Maturity: about 57 days from transplant (longer from seed in cool springs).
- Habit: Bush or trailing habit — compact, container-friendly.
- Season fit: needs roughly 77 frost-free days; check with the ZIP tool above.
- Source data: compiled from public seed catalogs (Johnny's Selected Seeds). Days-to-maturity vary by climate.
Compare with similar varieties
How Little Gem stacks up against its closest relatives.
| Variety | Days | Type | Habit | Min zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Gem (this) | 57 | mini-romaine | bush | 3+ |
| Buttercrunch | 55 | butterhead | bush | 3+ |
| Parris Island Romaine | 68 | romaine | bush | 3+ |
| Red Sails | 45 | loose-leaf | bush | 3+ |
| Black Seeded Simpson | 45 | loose-leaf | bush | 3+ |
Similar varieties
Buttercrunch
55 days · butterhead · zone 3+
Parris Island Romaine
68 days · romaine · zone 3+
Red Sails
45 days · loose-leaf · zone 3+
Black Seeded Simpson
45 days · loose-leaf · zone 3+
Data: USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM/OSU), NOAA 1991-2020 frost normals, and public seed catalog listings. Always confirm with the seed packet.