Little Gem Lettuce Information

Little Gem Lettuce is an English heirloom romaine lettuce cultivar. It is a “cross” between romaine and butterhead lettuce types. The alternative names for Little Gem are Sugar Cos or Sucrine which is French for sugar. This lettuce variety is sometimes sold as “hearts” with the outer leaves removed for convenience. Little Gem lettuce matures in 50 days. It is an easy to grow crop suitable for growing in compact spaces, patio pots and containers.

Although commonly but mistakenly thought of as a real cross, Little Gem simply carries the characteristics of both the romaine and butterhead lettuce types. It is manifestly a combination of the two types.

In some places, Little Gem is sometimes referred to as Baby Gem Lettuce. Regardless of name preference, it is a legitimate vegetable cultivar of the Daisy family. Its scientific name is Lactuca sativa. 

Other types of lettuce, apart from romaine, are loose leaf and butterhead lettuce. These are all available on the market as fresh produce. The date of origin of the Little Gem is hard to establish. However, it has its origins in Europe and is an heirloom cultivar.

Heirlooms are heritage plant varieties which, in some circles, have a pedigree of at least 50 years. They are passed down from generation to generation as per University of Florida Gardening Solutions. 

Where to Find Little Gem Lettuce Seeds

Little Gem seeds are widely available online and offline in gardening stores. The seeds are inexpensively sold in packs of any size from 200 to 1000 seeds. Brown to light brown in color, Little Gem seeds are tiny in size and easier handled from the palm of the hand when planting.

Little Gem Characteristics

The overall appearance of the Little Gem lettuce is faithful to romaine. It stands upright exuding a cylindrical bullet-like shape which is apparent with the outer leaves stripped off. Even at full size of 6 inches tall and 4 inches wide, the dwarf Little Gem lettuce remains half the size of the regular romaine lettuce. 

Furthermore, it has succulent looking green leaves which surrounds its center commonly referred to as “heart” which itself is a miniature head, pale green in color yet crisp. 

As for taste and flavor, Little Gem brings to the table a mild flavor and crispy texture, the typical romaine crunch. It has sweeter taste than many lettuce types. To be precise, the “heart” is butter-sweet in taste. In addition, Little Gem lettuce does not develop a bitter flavor unless if left to over mature.

For the growers, Little Gem is favored for resistance to diseases such as root aphid, its relatively quick maturity and delay in bolting. It also has high yields per square foot. This makes it a rewarding crop for avid gardeners.

Health Benefits of Little Gem 

Little Gem Lettuce is a low calorie vegetable. It is very rich in Vitamin A, beta carotene, Lutein and zeaxanthin. The human body converts beta carotene to Vitamin A, an essential nutrient.  According to the Journal of Ophthalmology, Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants used by the body for better vision as well as preventing photoinduced damage to the eye’s lens and the retina associated with ultraviolet rays in sunlight.

Other significant health benefits found in Little Gem include Potassium (210g), Calcium (28g), Phosphorous (25g) and Folate (115g) according to the University of Rochester Medical Center Folate helps with the production of healthy red blood cells. Folate deficiency is associated with muscle weakness, lack of energy and disturbed vision. Although consumption of Little Gem Lettuce in of itself my not reverse deficiencies, it is a good source for a preventative diet.

Little Gem Lettuce Culinary Applications

Little Gem is a tasty and flavorful gourmet vegetable. It is sweeter than many common lettuce varieties. This lettuce has a range of culinary applications raw, cooked, braised or grilled. The outer leaves of the lettuce, when removed, leave the inner leaves tightly intact making the Little Gem ideal for grilling.

The following are some tasty recipes made using Little Gem.

• Broad bean and Little Gem Salad – a fresh tasting salad by renowned Mary Barry which uses six Little Gem lettuces. The ends of the Little Gems are trimmed off but the roots are kept intact. Each lettuce is then sliced into six wedges before being neatly arranged on a platter and more ingredients in the recipe added.

• Little Gem Lettuce with Walnut Vinaigrette – This is an easy to follow 2 step recipe by acclaimed Martha Stewart. This recipe uses 6 medium heads Little Gems which are halved lengthwise. The lettuces are arranged on a large platter and other ingredients in the recipes added.

• Braised Little Gem Lettuces –  This is a side dish recipe that uses 6 lettuces to serve 6 to 8 people. The lettuces are quartered and added to a heavy-based pan with hot oil over very high heat. The Little Gem Lettuces are cooked until they are colored on all sides. Other vegetable ingredients are then added.

• BBQ Grilled Little Gem Lettuce – This recipe takes advantage of the compact and tightness of the Little Gem to BBQ them without wilting. The roasting takes 2-3 minutes. Olive oil, salt and pepper are additional ingredients used in the recipe.

• Grilled Little Gem Lettuce Salad – Finally, this recipe grills 8 heads of Little Gem Lettuce. The grilling produces a flavor that is slightly sweet and smoky. The lettuces are first washed and then dried. The roots are trimmed off and the heads cut in half lengthwise. The lettuces are drizzled with olive oil and then sprinkled with salt and pepper before grilling.

Dressed Little Gems Recipe

This an easy recipe serving 8 that takes only 15 minutes to prepare.  Serve as a side.

How to Prep Little Gem Lettuce

Usually, before using Little Gem following a harvest or grocery purchase, some preparation is required. The following are some steps to take before using the lettuce.

1. After harvest, remove any wilted, tired or colored leaves and dispose.
2. Peel away some of the good outer leaves. The removed good outer leaves can be stored and used later.
3. Rinse the Little Gem and the removed good outer leaves.
4. Using a knife, chop the root off. This is the stem looking bottom end of the lettuce, white in color.
5. Cut the Little Gem in two longitudinally. The lettuce may be cut further as desired into bite sizes  e.g. into cubes. Use what is required and wrap the remainder in moist paper towel and store in the fridge in a plastic bag.

Preparing Little Gem (Video)

In this video, an easy way to prepare Little Gem lettuce is demonstrated.

How to Grow Little Gem Lettuce 

Little Gem is easy to grow. It can be grown in the ground in pots or in containers. Furthermore, it can be grown under artificial lights and in a hydroponics system. The options are plenty that is how versatile it is.

Growing Little Gem broadly follows the standards methods of growing other types of lettuce. The following steps may be followed to successfully grow Little Gem.

1. Germination: 4- 5 days. Soil temperature favorable for germination is between 50 and 65 degrees.
2. Soil:  Prepare to grow Little Gem in fertile, well-drained and moist soil. Organic matter such as compost or manure can be added to the soil. Soil pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0.
3. Planting: Lettuce Gem seeds are planted 6 mm (1/4 in) deep and 15cm (6in) apart. Some containers or pots may take only one plant.
4. Planting: Little Gem seeds can be sowed indoors 3 to 4 weeks ahead of spring. Lettuce is a cool weather crop. The seedlings are hardened for 2 to 3 days for 3 to 4 hours per day under partial shade prior to transplanting. Partial shade is ideal even for grown plants in hot summer afternoons.
5. Harvesting: The Little Gem is ready for harvest in 48 to 50 days (some catalogues say 33 days this may be too early). At this time the lettuce has a firm fully mature head. The lettuce is harvested by cutting whole plant at the base. Individual leaves may also be harvested as needed whilst the crop is still in the garden.

Conclusion

Little Gem Lettuce is a gourmet vegetable which has a variety of culinary applications. It carries the characteristics of romaine and butterhead lettuce types. It is known for its “heart” which itself is a miniature head with a butter-sweet taste. For home gardeners, Little Gem is very easy to grow and a highly rewarding crop with high yields when cared for properly.

Recommended Reading:

• Baby Lettuce Explained
• How to Grow Lettuce Microgreens
• Causes of Bitter Lettuce
• Green Leaf Lettuce Explained
• Lamb’s Lettuce