Lettuce
Contrary to what summer salads may suggest, lettuce is in fact a cool-season crop that does best in spring, late summer, and autumn. High heat causes lettuce to bolt and run to seed. To slow summer lettuce from bolting, plant bolt-resistant varieties in light shade in mid-summer. In all other seasons, lettuce should be planted in full sun.
Thermal dormancy can be an issue where lettuce does not germinate in soil temperatures above 15°C. If planting in the very hot months (Nov-Feb), then chill seed in the fridge for a few days to break dormancy. Lettuce also needs to be shallowly sown as it requires light to germinate. All of these points can make it difficult for the novice to sow successfully every time.
Lettuce will germinate in temperatures as low as 5°C, so don’t be scared to sow directly outside early in the season. If in doubt about keeping direct-sown seed moist, cover with a thin hessian cloth for the first 5 days.
Lettuce enjoys high levels of soil fertility. Although best started off in seedling trays, lettuce can be direct-seeded and thinned in the beds.
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All Year Round Lettuce
Lactuca sativa A great heading butter lettuce that can literally be planted all year round. In co..
R33.89
Arianna
Lactuca sativa An extremely attractive French heirloom with bright green leaves. Bolt and tip-bu..
R33.89
Black Seeded Simpson
Lactuca sativa A stunning loose-leaf heirloom introduced by Peter Henderson & Co. in the 1870..
R33.89
Blushed Butter Cos
Lactuca sativaA beautifully coloured, savoyed, and dense cos lettuce. The frost-hardy leaves are gre..
R33.89
Blushed Butter Oak
Lactuca sativaA beautiful coloured loosely packed lettuce which is cold hardy. The tender leaves are..
R33.89
Butter King
Lactuca sativaThis is a real winner in South Africa. Growing lettuce is tough here as it doesn't tol..
R33.89
-500x500.jpg "Butterhead Attraction")
Butterhead Attraction
Lactuca sativa It is a lovely butterhead that forms a nice compact head with a mild, sweet flavou..
R33.89
Capitaine
Lactuca sativaA superb butterhead variety that produces large, compact, bright green heads with sli..
R33.89
Cimmaron
Lactuca sativa An absolute favourite! This 18th-century heirloom is a Romaine-type lettuce that p..
R33.89
Dark Green Cos
Lactuca sativaDeep green, slightly crinkled leaves form an upright loose head of lettuce. These leav..
R33.89
Deer Tongue Really Red
Lactuca sativaA stunning heirloom boasting ruby-red, slightly pointed leaves with contrasting thick ..
R33.89
Freckles
Lactuca sativaA late 18th-century heirloom Romaine-type lettuce from Austria and Southern Germany. I..
R33.89
Gabriella
Lactuca sativaA beautiful, deep wine red-coloured loose-leaf type. The leaves are frilly and wrinkle..
R33.89
Gourmet Lettuce Mix
Lactuca sativa This gourmet mix is made up of a variety of loose-leaf and heading varieties that ..
R33.89
Great Lakes
Lactuca sativa Nowadays, it is almost impossible to find a good heading lettuce. Great Lakes was..
R33.89
Green Mantilia
Lactuca sativaAvailable for purchase from 1 July 2025 Green Mantilia lettuce is a belov..
R33.89
Iceberg
Lactuca sativa Introduced in 1895, Iceberg set the original standard for crisphead lettuce. While..
R33.89
Iya Sol
Lactuca sativaA beautiful, frilly loose-leaf Romaine lettuce. Stunning red leaves grow straight up a..
R33.89
Jericho
Lactuca sativaAn open-pollinated cos-type variety developed in Israel, Jericho lettuce produces very..
R33.89
Kagraner Sommer
Lactuca sativaA European butterhead lettuce variety that is more tolerant of summer heat. The heads ..
R33.89
Specials
Baccatum Pea
Capsicum baccatum A wild chilli variety that produces Hot small fruits that are pea shaped. Fruits s..
R27.37 R31.48
Big Riot Chocolate
Capsicum chinenseThis is a result of a cross between Big Black Mama and 7 Pot Bubblegum. Not comple..
R42.21 R48.53
Black Cephus
Solanum lycopersicum LIMITED STOCK!This is another Livingseeds first. This tomato was found outsi..
R29.60 R34.12
Black Prince Chilli
Capsicum annuumWhile many class the Black Prince as an ornamental chilli, they are certainly edible ..
R27.37 R31.48
CGN 16994
Capsicum chinenseThought to originate from Brazil. This pepper is a Habanero wannabe. From the Haban..
R27.37 R31.48
Clavo Red
Capsicum ChinenseA relative of the habanero chilli. The fruits are elongated medium sized pods that ..
R27.37 R31.48
Dixie Beans
Phaseolus lunatus Dixie beans, a charming bush lima bean variety, is known for its heat-loving resi..
R33.02 R37.97
Facing Heaven
Capsicum annuum A very old Chinese variety, with a distinct flavour. A pretty bush that has all t..
R27.37 R31.48
Iditarod Red
Solanum lycopersicumIditarod Red is the perfect choice for gardeners looking for a compact, early va..
R29.67 R34.12
Loofah Lenyenye
Luffa aegyptiacaThe Lenyenye Loofah is a real South African treasure. One of the rarest of loofahs i..
R36.85 R42.38
Norfolk Green Globe Turnip
Brassica rapaThis English heirloom has stood the test of time, dating back to the 16th century. Prod..
R27.37 R31.48
Osborne and Clyde Pole Beans
Phaseolus vulgarisA vigorous climbing bean that produces short, flat green pods with a reddish-purpl..
R28.82 R33.14
Peacock Improved Watermelon
Citrullus lanatusA tough vining watermelon with dark green oval fruits. The slightly tough rind encl..
R32.48 R37.35
Ronde de Nice
Cucurbita pepoA French zucchini heirloom variety that is a vigorous and quick growing. The pastel g..
R29.47 R33.90
Scaly Bark Watermelon
Citrullus lunatus Now here's a unique-looking watermelon. First listed in 1885, this very old US ..
R31.36 R36.06
Silver Queen Okra
Abelmoschus esculentusA prolific producer of 8cm elegant lime-tinted pods if picked regularly. The ..
R29.47 R33.90
Summer Star Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum The yields on this variety are noteworthy. These indeterminate plants are re..
R29.47 R33.90