Description

Item Details

Slightly ruffled leaves are crunchy and sweet, making this variety a standout for salads, lettuce wraps, and sandwiches. Plants with buttery-green hearts grow upright and reach 10-12″ tall, resist tip burn, and are mosaic virus tolerant. Leaves can be harvested at any size. Developed by Clemson University and the USDA, it is named after Parris Island, South Carolina. Romaine, 65 days. +28,000 seeds/oz.

History of the Plant

‘Parris Island Cos’ is a romaine-type lettuce developed around 1950 by Clemson University, and named after Parris Island in South Carolina

Learn to Grow Parris Island Cos Lettuce

Growing Media

GROWING: Growing Parris Island cos is no different than growing any lettuce plant. Seeds can be sown directly in the garden and will mature in about 65 to 70 days.

SEED: In optimal growing conditions at least 70% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years. Per 100′ row: 240 seeds head lettuce/1.2M seeds leaf type, per acre: 58M seeds head Lettuce/348M leaf type.

DAYS TO MATURITY: From direct sowing. Most varieties will be ready for harvesting as baby leaves in half the days shown on the packet.

Care

WATER: Requires moderate levels of water: approximately 1″ per week. Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. This is particularly important in the early stages of growth as overwatering the seeds can cause damage and decrease your germination rates.

HARVEST: Pick individual leaves or wait and harvest full heads. Mature summer lettuce stays in prime eating condition for only a short time, so harvest promptly and keep planting. In fall and winter, the plants stay in good harvest condition longer.

COMPANION PLANTING: Lettuce plants make good companions for beets, Brassicas, carrots, celery, chervil, cucumbers, and dill. garlic, onions, radish, spinach, squash, and strawberries.

LIGHT: NATURAL: Full Sun. Prefers partial afternoon shade in warm weather. Needs at least 12 hours of light daily:
however, more is preferred. A 24-hour day cycle may result in the highest yields.

CLIMATE: Grows best in cool weather and will survive mild frosts. Romaine lettuce can be grown as a winter crop in USDA Zones 8 and above. High temperatures will cause plants to bolt, and germination will be poor in temperatures above 80°F.

Nutrients

NUTRITIONAL: The nutritional profile of the lettuce includes vitamins C.K, and A as well as calcium, folate, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. Parris Island romaine is a fairly easy-to-grow lettuce type and is resistant to lettuce mosaic virus (LM) and Hepburn (TB).

MEDICINAL: Sturdy, crunchy, and packed with nutrition, romaine lettuce is a hearty salad green. Also known as cos lettuce, romaine Lettuce is known for its nutritional benefits and savory, yet neutral taste. It’s also low in calories, sugar, and carbohydrates and high in vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C is Healthy for the Immune System, Skin, Bones, and Teeth. Romaine is a Heart Healthy Food par Excellence.