Center for Crop Diversification Crop Profile

CCD-CP-116

Romaine Lettuce
Cheryl Kaiser1 and Matt Ernst2
Introduction
Romaine (Lactuca sativa), also known as cos, is a
lettuce that produces elongated heads. Romaine is
considered more nutritious and has more volume
than iceberg. Because it is slower to bolt than other
head lettuces, romaine can be grown commercially in
Kentucky.

Marketing
There are opportunities for romaine lettuce sales at all
direct farm markets for vegetables, including farmers
markets, on-farm markets, roadside stands and
community supported agriculture (CSA). Kentucky
restaurants and grocers show interest in sourcing
locally grown romaine lettuce. Additional local and
regional marketing opportunities may be available for
bagged salad and lettuce mixes, especially if they are
certified organically grown.

Romaine lettuce is a well-established category in the

wholesale grocery and foodservice trade. Growers
here could explore market potential for producing
spring and fall-grown romaine lettuce. High-volume
production plus post-harvest cooling, food safety bagged salad greens, as well as its greater use in the
protocol and transportation are important for success foodservice industry, has sustained consumer demand
in the commercial romaine market. for romaine.

Market Outlook Commercial romaine lettuce production is focused in

Romaine lettuce consumption in the U.S. doubled California and Arizona, which accounted for 97 percent
during the 1990s and early 2000s as consumer of U.S. romaine acreage in 2012. Romaine production
preferences continued the shift from for local markets has increased
less nutritious head (iceberg) lettuce nationwide, as consumers show interest
to leaf lettuce. Per capita consumption in locally grown produce. Romaine is
of romaine ranged from 10.8 pounds also a viable crop for greenhouse and
to 12 pounds per person from 2010 to protected horticultural systems, and
2015. The popularity of salad bars and www.uky.edu/CCD extended season production of romaine

1
Cheryl Kaiser is a former Extension Associate with the Center for Crop Diversification.
2
Matt Ernst is an independent contractor with the Center for Crop Diversification.
Cooperative Extension Service | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Family and Consumer Sciences | 4-H Youth Development | Community and Economic Development
and other leaf lettuces is feasible in Kentucky. Larger- Depending on the variety and between-row spacing,
scale wholesale production is also possible, as Eastern two to three rows can be used per bed. Researchers
salad processors may be interested in saving costs by in the UK Department of Horticulture have examined
sourcing romaine lettuce grown east of the Mississippi. various cultural practices, including plant spacing, to
Growers wishing to tap into the wholesale market determine the best production methods for Kentucky
must be able to compete on a delivered price and romaine.
quality level. Volume production plus proper handling
and food safety certification are necessary to succeed Romaine can be direct-seeded into either bare ground
in a high-volume wholesale lettuce market. or plastic mulch. Pelleted seed is normally used
for direct seeding with a simple ‘Planter Junior’
Production considerations type seeder or vacuum seeder. Seed can be primed
Cultivar selection to enhance emergence uniformity and to prevent
Most of the romaine currently sold to wholesale germination failure when soils are too warm (above
salad companies consists of varieties that have been 80° F).
bred for western and southwestern U.S. climates.
One important key to wholesale production in Most Kentucky growers use transplants that have been
Kentucky will be selecting varieties adapted to our seeded into cell plug trays in the greenhouse about
local climate. Recommendations are available from four weeks prior to going to the field. Transplanting
the University of Kentucky for cultivars with more has the advantage of resulting in an earlier crop than
desirable variety, yield and quality characteristics for direct seeding, as well as a more accurate plant spacing
Kentucky conditions. Desirable head characteristics and final plant population. In addition, transplants
for processed lettuce include large framed heads with are less exposed to insect damage, drought or other
a high density and a savoyed texture. Stripped heads early season stresses. Competition from weeds is
should yield about 1½ pounds each.
also reduced. Transplants can be set by hand or with
a waterwheel setter onto raised beds. The number
Varieties suitable for processed romaine may not be
of rows can be increased to three or four per bed by
suitable for growers selling to local fresh retail markets
making a special wheel for the waterwheel setter.
and other wholesale markets. For example, the head
Precision planting, plant population and seedling
size required for processed lettuce is too large for
depth are very important in obtaining the necessary
farmers market sales. Other varietal characteristics,
quality and yields for wholesale processing.
such as color and earliness, should be considered for
these other markets.
Irrigation is necessary to provide continuous moisture
Site selection and planting for maximum yields and quality. Romaine is shallow-
Romaine is a cool-season crop that is planted in early rooted, making drip irrigation, rather than overhead,
spring or late summer/fall. High tunnels and similar more effective in delivering water directly to the roots.
structures can be used to extend the season. Soils should Romaine’s poorly developed root system also means
be well-drained and rich in organic matter. Uniform that nutrients need to be placed near the roots for more
soil types are important to obtaining uniformity at efficient uptake. Several sidedressings with nitrogen
harvest. Lettuce is very sensitive to herbicides, such as may be required; however, excess use can result in
triazines, and should not be planted where carryover undesirable puffy heads.
could be a problem.
Plasticulture vs. bare-ground production
Traditionally, greens have been grown as row crops Black plastic mulch has been used for spring plantings
with wide spacing. Today, many Kentucky growers of a number of greens, including romaine. White mulch
are planting at higher densities using raised beds is an option for late summer plantings. Plasticulture of
with multiple rows per bed and drip irrigation. Bed romaine produces a cleaner crop with fewer weeds.
shaping machines commonly used in Kentucky will In addition, soils warm up more quickly with black
form a 6-inch-high raised bed 30 to 32 inches wide at plastic; however, black plastic may result in excessive
the top with 5 to 6 feet between centers of the beds. heat toward harvest.
Bare-ground production is less expensive than for wholesale markets must be uniform and free of
plasticulture and allows for the higher plant populations tipburn.
required by wholesale salad companies. However,
weed control with hand/mechanical cultivation or Field packing romaine avoids having to handle the
herbicides becomes critical without plastic. Past delicate crop twice, thus reducing the potential for
research at UK included a study of plastic mulch and damage. Field-packed lettuce harvested for the fresh
drip irrigation for romaine production. market is generally packed into 24-count (head)
cartons. It is then transported to either a vacuum or
Temperature a forced air cooling facility to remove the field heat.
Young romaine plants can be hardy down to 22° F, but
susceptibility to cold injury increases as plants mature. Following good food safety practices is essential,
Plants prefer temperatures between 60° F and 65° F; regardless of the market. Companies processing
however, romaine will grow well as long as the sum romaine for salad will advise or require specific
of the daytime and nighttime maximum temperatures field packing practices and equipment. Generally,
does not exceed 150 degrees. processed lettuce is packed in plastic bins or paper bin
boxes. Romaine should be cooled to 32° F as soon
Pest Management as possible. While vacuum cooling is the standard,
The main threats to stand establishment are the forced air is being used with some success. Stored at
fungi Sclerotinia and Rhizoctonia. Romaine is also the proper temperature and relative humidity, romaine
susceptible to a number of foliar diseases that can has a storage life of two to three weeks. Wholesale
reduce the quality and marketability of leaves. These buyers may require food safety certification for their
include downy mildew, powdery mildew and various growers.
fungal leaf spots. Other potential disease threats
include bottom rot and drop, Botrytis gray mold, and Labor requirements
viruses. Labor needed to produce a crop of romaine lettuce
will vary based on weed control techniques, harvest
The main physiological problem affecting lettuce is techniques and yield. Field preparation, planting
bolting (premature flower stalk production), which can and crop care are estimated at 25 hours per acre.
occur during persistently hot weather and long days. If herbicides or black plastic are not used for weed
While romaine is more heat tolerant than head lettuce, control, then up to 80 hours per acre of weeding labor
bolting can still be a problem. Other physiological may be required. More labor may be required in
concerns include tip burn, brown rib, bitterness and some production systems, including certified organic
puffy head. acreage. Harvest labor requirements will depend on
how the crop is packaged for market.
Potential insect problems include cutworms,
armyworms, wireworms, aphids, flea beetles, Economic considerations
leafminers and leafhoppers. Scouting to monitor Initial investments for start-up may include
populations can help the grower determine when and specialized bed shapers, plastic layers, precision
how often insecticides should be applied. planters, transplanters, bed cultivators and irrigation
equipment. A conveyor type harvest aid, and post-
Harvest and Storage harvest washing/cooling equipment, will be required
Romaine is hand-harvested as whole plants (once over for high-volume commercial production. Growers
harvest) for fresh market or salad processing. Growers considering volume production of lettuce for wholesale
selling bagged greens may choose to harvest the crop markets need to address the post-harvest cooling and
as individual leaves (multiple harvests). handling requirements for the crop, according to buyer
specifications.
Romaine heads are harvested just as they start to
close; waiting too long can result in bolting. Salad There are few published large-scale romaine lettuce
companies want 12-inch-tall heads with as small of a production budget estimates, and published estimates
core as possible, generally, 3½ inches or less. Heads vary greatly on production and harvest assumptions,
depending on region. Published university estimates Selected Resources
from California, Arizona and North Carolina put the • Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial
total costs of large-scale romaine production between Growers, ID-36 (University of Kentucky)
$5,000 and $10,000 per acre. Large-scale romaine http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id36/id36.htm
lettuce profitability is often determined by proximity • Romaine Lettuce Cultivar Trial, in 2008 Fruit
to processors, production efficiency, labor costs, yields and Vegetable Research Report (PR-572), page 37
and price. (University of Kentucky) http://www2.ca.uky.edu/
agcomm/pubs/pr/pr572/pr572.pdf
Small growers can profitably grow romaine lettuce • Romaine Lettuce Spacing Study, in 2008 Fruit
for direct markets in Kentucky. Production costs will and Vegetable Research Report (PR-572), page 37
vary greatly, depending on planting and weed control (University of Kentucky) http://www2.ca.uky.edu/
practices. The key costs for small-scale production are agcomm/pubs/pr/pr572/pr572.pdf
seed or transplant costs, weed control and marketing.
Suggested Citation:
Growers that are able to keep variable costs, including
Kaiser, C. and M. Ernst. (2017). Romaine Lettuce. CCD-
all labor, within the $100 range for a 100-foot bed CP-116. Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification,
could realize potential profits at the prices obtained in University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and
typical direct market situations. Environment. Available: http://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.
uky.edu.ccd/files/romaine.pdf

Reviewed by Brent Rowell, UK Extension Professor, International & Sustainable Agriculture

Photo courtesy of Rosie Lerner, Purdue University October 2017
For additional information, contact your local County Extension agent
Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political
belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.