Comparing Yield of Baby-Leaf Lettuce with Salanova™ ‘Baby-Leaf' Head Lettuce Production in Northwest Washington

Head lettuce cultivars Eazyleaf^TM, Multileaf^TM, and Salanova^TM are unique in that when they are mature, the head contains approximately 200 short (10–15 cm) leaves as compared to 60 leaves for conventional head lettuce. We compared the yield of the two baby-leaf production systems, "baby leaf" head lettuce with Salanova^TM (Johnny’s Select Seeds) and traditional baby-leaf lettuce in two separate but adjacent field studies using organic practices in Northwest Washington. Eight Salanova^TM cultivars were transplanted into a 30-inch wide bed covered with black plastic, with three rows spaced 8 inches apart. For traditional baby-leaf production, cos lettuce Cv. Flashy Trout’s Back was direct seeded on a 30-inch wide bed, with six rows spaced 4 inches apart and seeds spaced ½-inch apart in the row. Salanova^TM cultivars were seeded in the greenhouse 9 April, transplanted on 18 May, and harvested 52 days after transplanting. ‘Flashy Trout’s Back’ was seeded 14 and 30 April, and harvested 28 May and 17 June (average 36 days after seeding). The total and marketable yield of Salanova^TM cultivars was measured for a single harvest, while traditional baby-leaf lettuce yield was calculated for one, two, and three cuts, following common grower practices. Yield of Salanova^TM lettuce was 70.5 kg per 100-foot bed, with a value of $317 wholesale ($4.49 per kg) and $1275 retail ($18.08 per kg). Traditional baby-leaf lettuce yield was 14.8 kg for a single harvest with a value of $67 wholesale and $268 retail, 29.5 kg for a double harvest with a value of $145 wholesale and $539 retail, and 44.3 kg for a triple harvest with a value of $199 wholesale and $801 retail. Yield of Salanova^TM lettuce was 1.6 to 4.7 greater and value was 0.6 to 3.8 times greater than for traditional baby-leaf lettuce. A 100-foot bed of Salanova^TM lettuce with three rows requires approximately 300 seeds at an average cost of $0.064 per seed and a total cost of $19.20. A bed of traditional baby-leaf lettuce with the same dimensions requires approximately 14,400 seeds at an average cost of $0.0006 per seed and a total cost of $8.64. The cost of seed was $10.56 greater for Salanova^TM lettuce than for traditional baby-leaf lettuce, but this difference was insignificant considering the increased yield of Salanova^TM lettuce.