Botanical Interests
Great Lakes 118 Crisphead Lettuce Seeds
Best heat-tolerant lettuce for gardeners seeking reliable summer harvests.
Experience the crisp, refreshing taste of Great Lakes 118 Crisphead Lettuce. This improved 1960s variety is a gardener's delight, offering exceptional heat tolerance and resistance to common issues like bolting and tip burn, ensuring reliable harvests even in summer. It produces compact, round heads with a satisfyingly cool crunch, perfect for salads and sandwiches. As a frost-tolerant annual, it extends your growing season into cooler months. For a continuous supply, simply harvest outer leaves individually, allowing the plant to regrow.
$2.69
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
268
/ 5592
#268 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
-75%
Below average
Days to Maturity
6882
/ – days
Who it's for
- Salad lovers seeking a satisfying, crunchy texture
- Gardeners in warmer climates wanting reliable, firm heads
- Meal preppers needing long-lasting, fresh refrigerator storage
Who should skip it
- Beginner gardeners preferring low-maintenance, simple leaf varieties
- Impatient growers wanting a quick, short-season harvest
- Gardeners in regions with unpredictable, extreme heat fluctuations
Performance breakdown
Heat Tolerance
Stands up to summer temperatures where other varieties typically bolt.
Harvest Versatility
Cut-and-come-again harvesting provides a steady supply of fresh greens.
Container Suitability
Compact growth habit makes it ideal for small patio containers.
Disease Resistance
Strong defense against tip burn and scalding ensures cleaner harvests.
Season Extension
Frost tolerance allows for successful planting in both shoulder seasons.
Germination Reliability
Standard ten-day window provides predictable results for home gardeners.
Key Specs
Days to Maturity
68–82 days
Seed Count
660 seeds per packet
Seed Depth
Surface to ⅛"
Seed Spacing
3 seeds every 8"
Row Spacing
10"
Plant Dimensions
6" diameter
Days to Germination
10 days
Botanical Name
Lactuca sativa
Features
- Reliable summer growth due to heat tolerance
- Resistant to bolting, scalding, and tip burn
- Produces compact, round heads
- Outer leaves can be harvested for continuous supply
- Frost-tolerant for extended cool-season growing
- Excellent for container gardening
- Offers an improved selection over original variety
- Delivers a cool, satisfying crunch
What customers say
This seed variety earns high praise for its exceptional reliability and the superior quality of the resulting harvest. Gardeners consistently note outstanding germination rates, which simplifies planting for everyone. The mature lettuce heads are celebrated for their substantial size and satisfying crisp texture. This variety proves to be a highly dependable choice, consistently delivering both a reliable yield and excellent culinary results.
Know before you buy
Yes, this variety is well-suited for container gardening. Because the plants reach a compact 6-inch diameter, they thrive in pots or window boxes with adequate drainage.
You can harvest the outer leaves individually as needed, which allows the center of the plant to continue growing. This 'cut-and-come-again' method provides a steady supply of fresh greens throughout the season.
Great Lakes 118 is specifically bred for improved heat tolerance and resistance to bolting. While most lettuces struggle in high heat, this variety is designed to maintain its quality and resist tip burn even during warmer summer months.
Sow the seeds very shallowly, between the surface and 1/8 inch deep. Lettuce seeds require a bit of light to germinate effectively, so avoid burying them too deeply.
Yes, it is a frost-tolerant annual. This allows you to extend your growing season by planting in the cooler temperatures of early spring or late fall.
Each packet contains approximately 660 seeds. For best results, sow 3 seeds every 8 inches, keeping rows spaced about 10 inches apart.
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