Leaf Lettuce ‘Aficion’ is a valued Batavia-type lettuce variety among practical gardeners, notable for its juicy and crisp leaves. Unlike dense head lettuces, ‘Aficion’ forms a loose and open rosette. Its slightly ruffled, light green Grand Rapids-type leaves offer excellent flavor, ideal for fresh summer salads, sandwiches, and snacks.
Thanks to its relatively short growing period of 35–50 days, it is a fast-yielding crop. This allows you to enjoy homegrown greens early in the summer and make several successive sowings throughout the season. The 0.3 g packet of seeds, produced in Germany, is sufficient for establishing a bountiful family garden bed in both protected cultivation and open fields.
Usage and Cultivation Instructions:
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Sowing Time: For an early harvest, sow in a greenhouse from March to June. Direct sow in open fields in May and June, once the soil has sufficiently dried and warmed.
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Location: Prefers a sunny location and loose, humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil.
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Sowing Depth: 1 cm.
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Spacing: Sow in rows, leaving 45–60 cm between rows. Plants should be spaced 10–15 cm apart within the row. If necessary, thin overly dense seedlings to allow rosettes ample space to grow full.
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Harvest: Plants reach consumption maturity within 35–50 days after emergence.
Tips and recommendations:
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To ensure a continuous and fresh harvest throughout the season, make new successive sowings every 2–3 weeks.
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Lettuce requires consistent moisture to grow juicy leaves. During dry periods, water the bed regularly – lack of water will cause lettuce leaves to become bitter and the plant tends to bolt prematurely.
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For spring open-field sowing, cover the bed with a horticultural fleece. This helps retain soil warmth, accelerates germination, and protects young leaves from night frosts.