Red Sails Lettuce Seeds

Red Sails Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an award-winning looseleaf lettuce prized for its beautiful burgundy-red leaves, crisp texture, and outstanding sweet flavor. An All-America Selections (AAS) Winner, Red Sails combines ornamental beauty with exceptional garden performance, producing large, frilly heads that remain tender and slow to bolt even as temperatures begin to rise. Its striking red coloration and dependable productivity have made it one of the most popular red leaf lettuces for home gardens, market growers, and gourmet chefs alike.

Introduction

If you're looking for a lettuce that is as attractive as it is delicious, Red Sails is hard to beat. The deeply ruffled leaves emerge bright green at the base before developing rich shades of burgundy, bronze, and deep wine-red across the leaf tips. This colorful variety adds instant beauty to vegetable gardens while producing abundant harvests of crisp, tender leaves perfect for fresh salads from spring through early summer and again in the fall.

Why Grow Red Sails Lettuce?

• All-America Selections (AAS) Winner.
• Beautiful burgundy-red looseleaf lettuce.
• Excellent sweet, mild flavor.
• Slow to bolt and more heat tolerant than many leaf lettuces.
• Ideal for cut-and-come-again harvesting.
• Produces continuous harvests over many weeks.
• Adds striking color to salads and vegetable gardens.
• Excellent for raised beds and containers.
• Easy to grow for gardeners of all skill levels.
• Outstanding home garden and market variety.

Flavor Profile

Red Sails offers a pleasantly mild, sweet flavor with virtually no bitterness when harvested during cool weather. The tender leaves are crisp yet delicate, with a refreshing texture that pairs beautifully with other salad greens. The colorful red pigmentation adds both visual appeal and subtle richness to fresh salads.

Growing Information

Red Sails thrives in fertile, well-drained soil with consistent moisture and full sun to partial afternoon shade. Sow seeds directly outdoors in early spring and again in late summer for fall harvests. This variety is noted for its improved resistance to bolting, allowing gardeners to enjoy fresh lettuce longer than many traditional looseleaf varieties.

• Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa
• Plant Type: Cool-season annual leafy vegetable
• Days to Maturity: 45–55 days
• Plant Height: 10–12 inches
• Plant Spread: 10–12 inches
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Rich, fertile, well-drained soil
• Spacing: 8–10 inches between plants
• Water: Maintain consistent soil moisture

Harvest outer leaves regularly while allowing the center to continue producing, or harvest entire plants at maturity. Frequent picking encourages vigorous new growth and extends the harvest season.

Harvest & Storage

Begin harvesting baby leaves just a few weeks after germination, or allow plants to develop into full-sized heads before cutting at the base. Harvest during the cool morning hours for maximum crispness. Refrigerate freshly harvested leaves immediately and use within several days for the finest flavor and texture.

Seedman Notes

Red Sails has long been one of our favorite colorful lettuce varieties because it combines ornamental beauty with outstanding garden performance. The attractive burgundy foliage makes every salad more appealing while delivering crisp texture and sweet flavor throughout an extended harvest season. Whether planted in traditional vegetable rows, raised beds, or decorative edible landscapes, Red Sails consistently produces beautiful and delicious harvests.

Quick Facts