When the sun shines a little brighter and the days get longer, there’s nothing as satisfying (and less expensive!) as growing your own produce in your backyard garden. But if you’re looking for something a bit more exciting than tomatoes or peppers, why not try growing and harvesting some colorful lettuce varieties?

Lettuce is an incredibly versatile vegetable. You can use it in salads, sandwiches, wraps, smoothies, and more! Whether you want to keep things classic with Romaine lettuce or go bolder with a nice crisphead, here are seven sensational lettuce varieties that will make your garden thrive.

Cos Lettuce

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Cos lettuce, also known as Romaine lettuce, is a wonderfully versatile leafy green vegetable that adds texture and flavor to any dish. It’s from the Asteraceae family -- just like artichokes -- and produces an elongated head compared to other lettuces.

Lobjoits Green

For gardeners who want a truly green-fingered experience, 'Lobjoits Green' lettuce is a perfect choice. Its large, firm hearts provide an abundant harvest of crisp and crunchy leaves that add zest to any salad or sandwich. Plus, its deep green hue offers a pleasant aesthetic for fall gardens. Additionally, with its biennial growth cycle, you can grow it as an annual from spring through to autumn.

This vegetable grows in full sun with moist but well-drained soil conditions. However, beware of slugs and snails which may attack your crop. It may also be susceptible to gray mold and downy mildew, so take care when looking after your plants.

Parris Island Cos

'Parris Island Cos' lettuce is a unique heirloom variety that will take your culinary experience to the next level. With its crunchy texture and sweet taste, this buttery-green-hearted leaf stands out amongst other lettuces.

This lettuce has upright growth and can reach 10 to 12 inches tall without issue, and it’s even resistant to tipburn and mosaic virus. Whether you’re harvesting for a full head or just individual leaves, 'Parris Island Cos' is sure to be a hit on any plate!

Little Gem

When it comes to fast-maturing lettuces, 'Little Gem' is a must for any green-fingered enthusiast. Not only does this small lettuce have deliciously crisp leaves, but its speedy harvesting time means you can enjoy the fruits of your labor sooner rather than later.

Also, you can grow this hardy crop outdoors throughout the summer months and in early fall and winter under covers.

If you’re looking for speedy results, why not sow some 'Little Gem' seeds indoors from February until March in a greenhouse or coldframe? Alternatively, you could wait until March and sow them directly outside.

Crisphead Lettuce

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Crisphead lettuce is an excellent choice for adding crunch and texture to salads and other dishes. Its large hearts of curled, crisp leaves add bright color and flavor to any plate. Plus, the leaves are more resistant to bolting than other varieties, making it a superb choice for gardens in cooler climates.

Hollywood PBR

'Hollywood PBR' is an Iceberg lettuce that’s perfect for adding a bit of glamor to any garden. Its medium-sized green heads make it the perfect size for salads, sandwiches, and more.

It has good resistance to downy mildew, making it a reliable choice for even beginners in gardening. With partial sun and moist but well-drained soil, this compact, annual/biennial lettuce is easy to care for while still providing you with delicious results.

Webbs Wonderful

'Webbs Wonderful' is a popular variety of lettuce that has stood the test of time. Its large, crisphead type and frilly-edged leaves make it an ideal choice for salads or sandwiches.

Not only does 'Webbs Wonderful' look great on your plate, but its slow-bolting nature ensures that you’ll have plenty to enjoy over time! It also thrives in a variety of soils and climates, meaning that you can grow it almost anywhere with ease.

Looseleaf Lettuce

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Looseleaf lettuce is a versatile and flavorful addition to any meal. Its slightly sweet taste makes it the perfect nutritionally balanced accompaniment for almost any food in your kitchen. The leaves can be green or reddish and come in various shapes -- from smooth, round leaves to wrinkled, serrated, or even curly ones.

Navara

'Navara' is the perfect lettuce for gardeners who are looking for beautiful color, texture, and taste.

This dark red oak-leaved variety with bright green centers has medium-sized heads that sit atop compact plants. What’s more, you can sow 'Navara' all year round so you can enjoy freshly picked salads throughout the seasons!

You’ll also appreciate its resistance to the lettuce leaf aphid -- keeping your salad leaves free from nasty bugs.

Nevada

If you’re looking for delicious lettuce that packs a flavorful punch, look no further than 'Nevada' lettuce! This robust vegetable is ready to harvest in just 48 days. Not only does it have a wonderful flavor and mildness, but its mild-weather production environment ensures quality produce every time. Enjoy crisp salads or cooked dishes with the fresh taste of homegrown 'Nevada' lettuce.

In Summary

Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a beginner, lettuce is an easy way to incorporate some deliciousness into your own backyard.

Not only will growing these lettuces provide you and your family with some flavor diversity, but it could also be useful and educational as an outdoor activity. Everybody can enjoy learning something new, and there’s no better way to stay inspired than through gardening!

Get growing today and share the bounty with friends and family. Leave a comment below and share if you give any of these varieties a try!