- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
- Learn More
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 21 – 68 days
Family: Asteraceae
Type: Romaine Lettuce (Learn more)
Native: Unknown; lettuce has been in cultivation for a long time.
Hardiness: Frost-tolerant annual
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Plant Dimensions: 10"–12" tall, 8"–10" wide
Variety Info: Upright growth with medium green, slightly savoyed (crinkled) leaves, crisp ribs, and buttery-green heart. 'Parris Island Cos' is a romaine-type lettuce developed around 1950 by Clemson University, and named after Parris Island in South Carolina.
Attributes: Heat Tolerant, Frost Tolerant, Tipburn Resistant, Mosaic Virus Tolerant
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 40°F, ideally 60°–70°F. Successive Sowings: Every 3 weeks until 4 to 6 weeks before your average first fall frost date. Mild Climates: Sow in fall and winter for cool season harvests.
When to Start Inside: 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, and in summer when soil temperatures are too warm (above 80°F) to germinate lettuce seed.
Days to Emerge: 5–10 days
Seed Depth: Surface to ⅛"
Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 10"
Row Spacing: 10"
Thinning: When ½" tall, thin to 1 every 10"
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: Harvest in the morning, by cutting off at ground level. If regrowth is desired, cut the leaves higher, at 2". For a continual supply, outer, individual leaves can be harvested at any stage of maturity, but leave at least half of the plant for regrowth.
- DVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars10/12/25WOW!! 1 Day germination!
Planted 10/11, geminated 10/12! Didn't know that was possible. Today is 10/12.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests10/13/25Hey D,
Thank you so much for this fantastic 5-star review! "WOW!! 1 Day germination!" is exactly what we love to hear about Parris Island Cos Romaine Lettuce Seeds - and honestly, that lightning-fast sprouting is just incredible testament to the vitality and quality that makes these seeds so special!
We absolutely love that you got to witness that amazing germination magic happening so quickly! There's something so exciting about planting seeds one day and seeing those first green shoots popping up the very next day - it's like your Parris Island Cos was just waiting to get started on growing into those beautiful, crisp romaine heads that make this variety such a garden favorite.
Your experience with such rapid germination really shows what fresh, high-quality lettuce seeds can deliver when conditions are just right. The fact that you were so amazed by that overnight success just captures that pure gardening joy that comes from seeds that are eager to grow and ready to reward you with delicious homegrown lettuce!
Your incredible germination success will be so inspiring for other gardeners who want to experience that same "wow" moment and discover just how fast and reliable Parris Island Cos Romaine Lettuce Seeds can be for getting their salad gardens off to an amazing start!
Keep on growing 🌻️
- Tina R.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars9/27/25Growing Romaine in a pot
The lettuce is in mostly full sun in a pot on my deck. It is growing well and I am harvesting baby Romaine on 9/26/25 after planting a month ago. LOVE it!
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests9/29/25Hey Tina R.,
What a fantastic review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that your Parris Island Cos Romaine Lettuce Seeds are delivering such amazing results in your deck container setup - there's nothing quite like harvesting your own fresh baby romaine just a month after planting!
Your container growing success really highlights what makes Parris Island Cos such a versatile variety! Growing lettuce in pots can be tricky since they need consistent moisture and the right balance of sun exposure, but it sounds like you've found the perfect spot on your deck. The fact that your romaine is thriving in mostly full sun and producing harvestable leaves so quickly shows what a reliable performer this variety is, even in containers.
We love that you're already enjoying fresh baby romaine harvests! There's something so satisfying about stepping out onto your deck and snipping fresh lettuce leaves whenever you need them. That convenience factor of container growing combined with the crisp, flavorful leaves that Parris Island Cos delivers makes for such a perfect combination.
Your deck gardening success will be so encouraging for other gardeners who want to grow their own fresh lettuce but are working with limited space or want the convenience of container growing!
Keep on growing 🌻️
- Madeline C.OH, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars9/20/25thriving despite my neglect
I'm really pleased with how these seeds have been growing. I wanted younger leaves so I sowed a larger than usual amount of seeds and mixed them into the top inch of soil in a container and they have done a great job of just springing up and taking over the container. I've been harvesting sections of the container whenever I want a salad. They've been doing great despite an unusually hot and dry summer here in Ohio. I'd been watering them daily or once every few days save a recent week where I was away and half expected to return to yellow dry wisps, but no they survived just well. The flavor is slightly more bitter and earthy than store bought romaine, so I prefer to eat them with a bit of dressing.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? Container - Margie M.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars2/16/255 Stars
Great lettuce
- Joyce H.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars1/7/255 Stars
Love seeds the quality and the varieties