Name: Organic 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce
Brand: Biologiquement vôtre
SKU: BIOV-SEMENCES
Price: 4.49 CAD
Availability: OutOfStock

Sale Sold out

Organic 'Ezbruke' mini-romaine lettuce with an open upright habit and uniform leaves that are spring green at the base and deep cherry red at the top. Plants spaced 15 cm apart produce attractive whole mini heads, while 10 cm spacing suits one-cut harvest for colourful salad mixes, grain bowls, sandwiches, and fresh platters.

Red Little Gem-type mini-romaine Asteraceae

Organic stem vegetable seeds

Biologiquement vôtre

Lactuca sativa

From seed to harvest

Common nameEzbruke lettuce, red mini romaine, one-cut lettuce

FamilyAsteraceae

GenusLactuca

Speciessativa

CultivarEzbruke

TypeRed Little Gem-type mini-romaine

Botanical nameLactuca sativa

Quantity per packetApproximately 50 seeds

Organic 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa) forms an open mini-romaine designed for whole-head harvest or one clean cut that releases a uniform assortment of leaves. Every leaf changes from spring green at the base to deep cherry red toward the top, creating striking contrast in salads. Upright leaves are easy to wash, portion, and combine with green lettuces. Space plants 15 cm apart for attractive small whole heads, or use 10 cm spacing for one-cut harvest. This flexible format suits vegetable beds, raised gardens, containers, and fresh salad mixes.

Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked, or start transplants three to four weeks before setting them outside. Cover seed only 0.3 to 0.5 cm and keep the bed cool until emergence. Choose loose, fertile, mature-compost-enriched, well-drained soil. Grow in sun during cool periods and offer light afternoon shade through strong heat. Sow small batches every two or three weeks for a steady supply. Water near the soil whenever the surface begins to dry, because uninterrupted growth helps preserve tender crisp leaves and reduces premature bolting or bitter flavour.

Harvest when the rosette reaches the desired size and before its centre begins elongating, generally around 45 to 60 days depending on season, spacing, and chosen stage. 'Ezbruke' has documented high resistance to several downy mildew races, lettuce leaf aphid, and TBSV, plus intermediate resistance to lettuce mosaic virus race 1. These resistances do not replace rotation, airflow, sanitation, and careful watering. Cut early in the morning, remove damaged leaves, wash under cool potable water, and refrigerate promptly. For one-cut use, make a clean cut above the crown so the uniform leaves separate with minimal trimming.

Light and life cycle

In the garden

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Life cycle: Annual vegetable

Sowing and germination

Sowing guide

Sowing & germination

Sowing depth

Barely cover, approximately 0.3 to 0.5 cm (1/8 to 1/4 in)

Spacing / density

10 cm (4 in) for one-cut harvest; 15 cm (6 in) for whole mini heads

Germination temperature

Approximately 10 to 20 °C (50 to 68 °F); germination declines sharply in warm soil

Germination time

Approximately 5 to 10 days at 10–20°C; temperatures above 24°C can reduce or delay germination.

Sowing period

Early spring as soon as soil can be worked; late summer for an autumn harvest

Propagation

Direct sowing or indoor sowing three to four weeks before transplanting

Growing method

Growing 'Ezbruke' lettuce from seed. Sow on fine moist soil and cover only 0.3–0.5 cm. Provide immediate light after emergence so the young rosettes remain compact. 'Ezbruke' develops the expected harvest form: open upright rosette of uniform leaves for whole-head or one-cut harvest above the crown. Use visible changes in the crop rather than the calendar alone to judge harvest. Thin or transplant gently to preserve airflow around the developing small upright compact dense uniform head. Space 'Ezbruke' 10 cm (4 in) for one-cut harvest; 15 cm (6 in) for whole mini heads to preserve access for watering, inspection, and harvest. Sow the planting in cool, finely prepared soil and keep the shallow seed zone evenly moist. Match the rosette to full sun to partial shade and observe the actual hours of unobstructed light at the site. Feed moderately; soft, overfed leaves are harder to cool and store. Because its habit is small upright compact dense uniform head, this lettuce needs enough room for routine care and neighbouring plants. Harden indoor starts gradually and protect them from severe frost or drying wind. Harvest after dew dries, shade the leaves promptly, and remove bolting plants before the next succession. Harvest the crop at the leaf, rosette, or head stage described for the product. Cut with a clean tool after dew dries, shade the harvest immediately, and remove bolting or diseased plants before they affect the next succession.

Soil and care

Soil & care

Soil pH

Approximately 6.0 to 6.8

Moisture

Evenly moist soil without saturation

Minimum temperature

Approximately −3 °C (27 °F) for well-hardened young plants; protect from hard freezes

Care level

Easy

Watering

'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce has a compact, shallow root system, so keep the soil evenly moist while its open upright rosette of uniform leaves for whole-head or one-cut harvest above the crown develop. Water 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce gently at soil level, let the surface begin drying before the next irrigation, and never leave its crown in standing water. Direct 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce's water beside the rosette so it does not remain trapped in the forming head. Check container-grown 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce daily in warm wind, but empty its saucer promptly.

Soil type

'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce prefers a fine, fertile seedbed that stays evenly moist without becoming dense around its shallow roots. For 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce, blend mature compost through the upper root zone, level the surface, and remove hard clods before planting. Use approximately 6.0 to 6.8 as 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce's supplied pH target, testing before attempting to change it. Keep 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce's crown at soil level, avoiding a low pocket where water could collect inside the open upright rosette of uniform leaves for whole-head or one-cut harvest above the crown.

Fertilization

'Ezbruke' responds best to moderate fertility and even moisture. Let a soil test guide any corrective amendment. For 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce, its leafy harvest should grow steadily without becoming soft. Measure label-rate feed rather than estimating a dose. For Ezbruke lettuce, its leaf rosette benefits from cool, consistently moist soil. Inspect light, water, and roots before feeding again. Stop feeding 'Ezbruke' well before the intended harvest. Build soil fertility gradually with finished compost. Heavy feeding makes 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce more vulnerable to stress.

Seasonal care

Seasonal care for 'Ezbruke' lettuce. Plan 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce from local frost and soil conditions rather than a fixed calendar: early spring as soon as soil can be worked; late summer for an autumn harvest. Sow and barely cover with approximately 0.3 to 0.5 cm of mix in approximately 10 to 20 °C (50 to 68 °F); germination drops sharply in warm soil; the working germination range is 5 to 10 days, with moisture held steady rather than saturated. Prepare a fine, fertile, well-drained seedbed and keep the shallow root zone evenly moist from emergence onward. Set the final spacing before leaves overlap heavily, using clean thinning cuts that leave neighbouring crowns undisturbed. Water at soil level in the morning, avoiding both a dry crust and standing moisture inside the developing crown. 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce container guidance: at least 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in) deep and approximately 3 to 5 L per mini head. Set the pot where runoff can escape and light is adequate. During warm weather, afternoon shade and renewed sowings can preserve leaf quality, but no placement prevents bolting indefinitely. Check for slugs, chewing insects, and damaged outer leaves, using barriers and sanitation before considering any treatment on an edible crop. Follow the supplied harvest cue—approximately 55 to 60 days after sowing depending on growing conditions—then cut while leaves are crisp and before the centre elongates or flavour turns strongly bitter. For an autumn crop, sow only when local summer heat is easing and enough growing time remains before persistent freeze. Remove bolted or diseased plants promptly, chill sound leaves after harvest, and leave the bed clean for the next succession.

Growing in containers

Container growing

Recommended pot size

At least 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in) deep and approximately 3 to 5 L per mini head

Growing 'Ezbruke' lettuce in containers. For 'Ezbruke', choose a container matching this guide: at least 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in) deep and approximately 3 to 5 L per mini head. Keep several drainage holes unobstructed. Sow 'Ezbruke' thinly or transplant a sturdy seedling without burying the crown. Lay out the crop at 10 cm (4 in) for one-cut harvest; 15 cm (6 in) for whole mini heads, then keep paths open instead of filling gaps with another mature crop. Use fresh, fine potting mix that holds steady moisture while allowing surplus water to escape. For this lettuce, watch for open upright rosette of uniform leaves for whole-head or one-cut harvest above the crown and confirm maturity from colour, firmness, or size as appropriate. Leave enough rim space for slow watering without splashing soil into the harvestable leaves. Plan around the way the rosette grows: small upright compact dense uniform head. Keep access to the root zone for watering and inspection. Check the shallow root zone often and water before it dries deeply, always emptying the saucer. Give the planting full sun to partial shade. Choose the site before committing the final planting position. Harvest clean outer leaves while preserving the centre, or cut the whole plant at its intended stage with a clean knife. Cut clean leaves before bolting, cool them promptly, and remove diseased potting debris from reuse. Succession-sow another labelled container instead of keeping bolting this lettuce. Remove diseased mix from reuse, wash the pot, and cool every edible harvest promptly.

Growth and harvest

Size, flowering & harvest

Mature height

Approximately 30 cm (12 in)

Width / spread

Approximately 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in)

Flower color

Yellow

Foliage color

Spring green at the base, changing to deep cherry red toward the top

Foliage type

Uniform upright crisp leaves with green bases and cherry-red tops

Growth rate

Fast

Growth habit

Small upright compact dense uniform head

Fragrance

Mild fresh crisp flavour typical of mini-romaine lettuce

Edible parts

Leaves and tender centre, thoroughly washed; avoid very bitter bolted plants

Bloom period

As 'Ezbruke' bolts, leaf or root harvest quality changes. Keep the root zone evenly moist during bloom. Lengthening days or stress can hasten 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce's bolting. Stable growth matters more than forcing extra bloom. Ezbruke lettuce flowers only after shifting away from harvest growth. Protect open flowers from abrupt water stress. Remove 'Ezbruke' before seed disperses if volunteers are unwanted. Stable growth matters more than forcing extra bloom. For 'Ezbruke' red romaine lettuce, leave selected blooms only when seed or insects matter. For Ezbruke lettuce, its seed stalk becomes taller and less harvest-focused.

Fruiting

Ezbruke romaine is harvested for its leafy head before the plant enters its flowering phase. The red foliage can be picked young or allowed to develop further according to the intended serving size. Check the central stem during warm weather, since elongation signals a change in quality. Fruit and seed formation are not part of the eating harvest and should not be used as readiness indicators.

Days to maturity

Approximately 55 to 60 days after sowing depending on growing conditions

Harvest

Harvest Ezbruke once the red mini-romaine rosette is full and compact, generally around 55–60 days after sowing. Cut the whole head just above soil level during the cool morning, or take a few outer leaves while preserving the centre. Chill promptly. If the heart elongates, flavour turns bitter, or the head loosens, harvest without delay rather than waiting for additional size.

Garden companions

Garden associations

Companion plants & uses

Companion plants

Ezbruke's red romaine leaves can be combined with green salad crops in a planned cutting bed. Separate the rows so differences in maturity remain visible and heads can be removed cleanly. Fast radishes make a useful nearby succession crop, provided they are picked before taking over the shared space. Keep taller vegetables from shading the lettuce too early. If insect netting is used, choose neighbouring crops that fit the same cover and access schedule rather than adding sprawling herbs that make the protected bed difficult to manage.

Plants to avoid

Celery parsley

Garden use

'Ezbruke' lettuce in the vegetable garden. Use this mini-romaine in cool-season successions along a bed edge, between slower young crops, or in a wide container near the kitchen. Sow a short row directly or transplant small plugs without burying the crown. Give plants bright light in spring and autumn, with afternoon shade or light cloth during hot weather. Maintain consistent shallow moisture because lettuce roots dry faster than those of deep vegetables, but provide drainage and airflow rather than keeping the crown wet. Thin or space plants so each compact head can form without touching its neighbours. Harvest outer leaves as needed or cut the whole head just above soil level when the centre is firm. Make additional small sowings rather than one large planting for a steadier supply. Watch for slugs near the base and aphids inside folded leaves; inspect before harvest and remove decaying tissue. In midsummer, high temperature and long days can trigger bitterness or bolting, so favour the coolest available site and harvest promptly once stems elongate. Remove crop residue after harvest and rotate away from beds with recurring lettuce disease. Keep soil off leaves by using clean mulch only after plants establish.

Recipe and storage

Recipe idea

From garden to table

'Ezbruke' lettuce in the kitchen. Grilled 'Ezbruke' mini-romaine — Heat a clean grill or ridged pan to medium-high. Remove any damaged outer leaves from four mini heads, rinse them carefully between the leaves, and dry very well so they sear instead of steaming. Halve each head lengthwise, keeping the base intact. Brush the cut sides with 15 mL olive oil and place them cut side down for one to two minutes, just until marked and slightly wilted. Turn briefly, then transfer to a platter. Whisk 20 mL lemon juice with 10 mL Dijon mustard, 30 mL olive oil, black pepper, and a small pinch of salt. Spoon the dressing over the warm lettuce and finish with toasted sunflower seeds, shaved hard cheese, or chickpeas. Serve immediately while the hearts remain crisp. Keep raw lettuce separate from meat and unwashed garden produce during preparation. Discard slimy or badly damaged leaves, use a clean platter after grilling, and refrigerate unused sound heads promptly in a dry container.

Wildlife and pets

Wildlife & precautions

Supporting wildlife

Ezbruke's flower stalk belongs to the later reproductive phase, not the normal romaine harvest. There is no need to delay picking heads to obtain a crop. Where a lettuce is retained for seed, leave room for its taller stalk and keep the remainder of the bed available for fresh sowings.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'Ezbruke' romaine or Little Gem?

Ezbruke is best described as a red mini-romaine or Little Gem–type lettuce. Those terms are compatible: Little Gem is the compact romaine category, while mini-romaine is the familiar North American description. Ezbruke forms a small, upright, dense head for whole-head or one-cut harvest rather than the large elongated head of a full-size cos. Use about 10 cm spacing when the crop is intended for one-cut production, or 15 cm when individual mini heads should fill. Its open red rosette and uniform leaves should still develop a compact edible centre; it is not simply a loose-leaf lettuce harvested early. Cut above the crown for the specified one-cut use, or lift the complete mini head. Harvest in cool conditions, shade and chill it promptly, wash between leaves, and discard slimy or mouldy tissue.

When should a 'Ezbruke' mini head be harvested?

Harvest an Ezbruke mini head when the upright rosette has formed a compact, dense centre but before a flower stalk begins to rise. The stated maturity is approximately 55 to 60 days after sowing, depending on conditions. Whole-head spacing is about 15 cm, while crops set 10 cm apart are intended for an earlier one-cut harvest. Use size, density, and tenderness with the day count rather than waiting for a large romaine head. Cut just above soil level with a clean knife and keep dirt out of the centre. Morning harvest after surface moisture dries helps produce a clean head. Cool it promptly, wash the leaves thoroughly before eating, and reject slimy or diseased tissue. Very bitter leaves and visible stem elongation indicate that bolting has begun.

What do 'Ezbruke' resistances mean?

Ezbruke's resistance package reduces the likelihood or severity of specified diseases; it does not make the lettuce immune. The documented claims are high resistance to Bremia lactucae downy mildew races 16–35 EU and 1–8 US, high resistance to lettuce necrotic stunt associated with TBSV, and intermediate resistance to lettuce mosaic virus race 1. Other races and pathogens can still affect the crop. Maintain the 10 cm one-cut or 15 cm whole-head spacing, water near the soil, and avoid prolonged wet foliage. Inspect every succession because disease pressure changes with weather. Remove severely affected plants instead of composting them beside healthy lettuce, clean tools between areas, and rotate crop families. Resistance complements sanitation and airflow; it never replaces them.

How can poor summer germination be avoided?

For summer sowing, focus on keeping Ezbruke seed within its approximate 10–20°C germination range. Chill the sowing mix or water the bed beforehand, seed during the coolest part of the day, and apply only 0.3–0.5 cm of cover. A light shade screen above the row can reduce surface heat without blocking air. Maintain fine, frequent moisture until seedlings appear in about 7–10 days, then remove extra cover and thin according to the intended system: 10 cm for one-cut harvest or 15 cm for full mini heads. If the garden remains hot, start seed in a cool bright room and transplant promptly before roots bind. Harden seedlings gradually, keep the crown exposed, and avoid standing water. Record soil temperature with the date; another sowing after cooler weather arrives may outperform repeated attempts in overheated ground.

Can 'Ezbruke' be grown in a container?

Ezbruke fits a container because each mini head needs only about 3–5 L and 20–25 cm of depth. In a window box, space plants about 10 cm for a one-cut crop or 15 cm when you want individual heads. Fill the vessel with light, moisture-retentive potting mix and confirm that drainage holes remain open. Give sun in cool weather, then shift to light afternoon shade as heat increases. The small root zone can dry rapidly, so check it daily and water before the leaves wilt, keeping the crown above the mix. Harvest uniform leaves together by cutting above the crown for one-cut use, or remove a compact whole head. Chill and wash the crop promptly. Succession-sow another section rather than leaving harvested spaces empty, and stop using any plant that bolts, becomes very bitter, slimy, or diseased.