Growing Mini Versus Full-Size Head Lettuce
Why It May Make Sense to Grow Some Minis
Mini heads bring real growing advantages and can earn considerably more than full-size heads, all while delivering great flavor and shelf life.
Here we compare the benefits, main differences and returns of mini and full-size head lettuce to help you decide whether minis belong in your plan.
Mini vs. Full-Size Head Lettuce
Full-size and mini romaine side by side: on the left, 'Salvius', a full-size romaine; on the right, 'Dragoon', a mini romaine.
Full-Size Head Lettuce
Standard full-size heads are bigger plants that need more room. They take longer to mature and give more lettuce per head than minis.
Mini Head Lettuce
Compact, single-serving heads are planted more densely and mature sooner, so they get to market faster. A 10' length of 4½' bed can hold 180 mini heads compared with 40 full-size heads.
'Gatsbi' is a versatile true mini with heavily savoyed green leaves and a beautiful pale heart.
True Minis
"True minis" are varieties bred to stay small at maturity. They grow tight and upright, packing small leaves into a compact head held up off the soil.
Little Gem types are probably the best-known true minis. 'Little Gem' itself is an old variety often described as a cross between romaine and bibb. Newer varieties like 'Newham' and 'Gatsbi' are improved Little Gem types, and 'Rosaine' and 'Volcana' are red Gem types.
Full-Size Varieties Grown as Minis
Minis can also be full-size varieties harvested young. Some full-size lettuces firm up early, so when planted fairly close and cut early they make good mini heads. Top examples:
- Summer crisp varieties for mini heads:
- Multi-leaf varieties for mini heads:
- Oakleaf varieties for mini heads:
Agronomical Advantages of Mini-Head Lettuce
Because they mature so quickly, mini heads give growers several advantages:
- They fit into shorter windows, like a late fall field planting or tunnel crops.
- They're one of the earliest heads you can harvest in spring.
- They handle difficult weather and seasons better. In summer, for instance, they head more reliably and are less prone to tipburn before maturity than full-size heads.
Browse mini bibb lettuce
Browse mini romaine (cos) lettuce
Running Some Numbers
Time & Space
Mini heads let you produce a saleable crop in less space and time than full heads. Here's a rough example; substitute your own figures based on your practices and records.
One 10' length of 4½'-wide bed holds:
- 40 full-size heads at 12" spacing
- 180 mini heads at 6" spacing
Assume about 40 days from transplant to harvest for full-size heads and 30 days for minis.
Starting both beds the same day, you'd get 3 crops of full-size heads or 4 crops of minis.
So in 120 days you could harvest:
- 120 full-size heads
- 720 mini heads
Gross Revenue and Return on Investment
If a mini head sells for half the price of a full-size head, those numbers mean minis would bring in about three times the gross revenue from the same bed space.
Of course, minis mean more flats to start, transplant and harvest, so factor in materials and labor. Still, numbers like these suggest it may be worth building a market for mini heads.
— the perspective of a diversified vegetable grower in upstate New York
Marketing & Culinary Uses for Mini-Heads
Try selling mini heads to chefs in colorful mixed boxes, or bag one red and one green mini together for the farmers' market. Shoppers increasingly value the flavor, quality and convenience of small vegetables, and many look for single-serving heads.
Besides being just right for an individual salad, some mini varieties can be grilled, braised or wilted. Their fine texture, flavor and looks make them a favorite on upscale restaurant menus, where they're often called "Little Gem" lettuce.
As demand grows, mini heads may become a key crop for you. At the very least, they round out your head lettuce lineup and can open new sales channels.
