🥬 Lettuce, Leafy Greens & Salad Mixes
Lettuce and leafy greens form the foundation of countless menus, from pub classics to fine dining. In Victoria, quality peaks in autumn and spring, when cool but mild temperatures allow consistent, vibrant growth.
Whether you’re after whole-head cos or a delicate mesclun mix, this category is all about freshness and crunch.
Peak Season: March to June & September to November
Off Season: Summer heat and winter frost can reduce quality and yield; supply may shift north
Common & readily available varieties: Iceberg, Cos, Butterhead, Mesclun Mix, Baby Spinach, Oak Leaf, Baby Cos, Roquette
Specialty Varieties: Mizuna, Tatsoi, Radicchio, Gem Lettuce, Witlof, Sorrel
Storage tips: Keep leaves dry and cool. Store in a lined, sealed container and wash only before use. Don’t let moisture build up — especially with baby leaves.
| LETTUCE & LEAVES | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iceberg Lettuce | 🟠 OK | 🟠 OK | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
🟡 Good | 🟠 OK | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| Cos Lettuce | 🟠 OK | 🟠 OK | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
🟡 Good | 🟠 OK | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| Coral Lettuce | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
🟠 OK | 🟠 OK | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| Butter Lettuce | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
🟠 OK | 🟠 OK | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| Wild Rocket | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟠 OK |
🟠 OK | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| Endive | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| Radicchio | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| Baby Spinach | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| English Spinach | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| Witlof | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| Mesclun Mix | 🟠 OK | 🟠 OK | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
🟠 OK | 🟠 OK | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| Silverbeet | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟡 Good |
| Tatsoi | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟢 Best |
🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| Mizuna | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟢 Best |
🟢 Best | 🟢 Best | 🟢 Best |
🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
🟢 Best Quality, Stable Price & Locally-Grown
Peak-season local produce at its freshest and most affordable. Excellent flavour, long shelf life, and reliable availability. Ideal for premium menus and consistent plating.
🟡 Good Quality, Variable Price
Often sourced from interstate. Still high quality, but pricing can shift depending on supply volumes and freight. A solid option with manageable cost.
🟠 OK - Variable Quality, Volatile Pricing
Typically freighted from distant states (QLD, WA or NT). Quality may be inconsistent, and pricing often fluctuates based on weather, fuel, and logistics. Use with caution in cost-sensitive menus.
🔴 Poor - Limited Supply, High Cost, and Imported
Availability is low or highly unpredictable. Often imported from overseas, resulting in shorter shelf life, lower flavour, and premium pricing. Suitable only for specialised or non-negotiable menu items.