Quality seeds for kitchen, cottage and native gardeners
Vegetable Seeds Catalogue
Lettuce
Sds/g: 700-1000 Feed Requirements: Moderate Usual Seed Life:4-6 years
Cultural Notes:
- An essential to grow in the garden or containers as the supermarket greens never taste as good freshly picked. Packaged supermarket salad greens may be treated with a chlorine-containing compound and/or an antioxidant or preservative during washing or before packaging.
- Lettuce may be harvested 12 months of the year in Tasmania, ensure that you grow the correct varieties to see you through winter and into early spring or grow in a greenhouse or cold frame.
- The four main types of lettuce eaten in Australia are crisphead (tight heads), butterhead (looser heads), cos/romaine and leaf. Most lettuce varieties prefer cool weather to grow (16-18ºC) and this is especially true of the heading types, so it is best to sow them up to the end of October. Cos and leaf varieties grow better through the heat of summer.
- Lettuce requires large amounts of water as they have shallow root systems. Never let them go thirsty otherwise you will end up with bitter a bitter lettuce and they will tend to go to seed earlier. Over-mature lettuce (starting to go to seed) also tastes bitter. Seeds germinate best at 18-20ºC and even at temperatures as low as 5ºC, but germinate poorly above 24ºC (the seed can go dormant in high temperatures). Sow seed direct into soil (3-5 mm) that has had some compost and fertiliser worked in. For leaf varieties thin to 30cm apart and head and cos varities to 40cm apart. Rows should be about 40cm apart. For a continuous supply sow a mix of varieties every 3-4 weeks.
- If you are going to sow into punnets or cells do not overcrowd them because when transplanting and the root structures get stressed or broken when pulled apart they can be triggered into seed production early. Turning bitter and running to seed.
Problems:
- Slugs and snails can cause havoc with seedlings. Once harvesting the lettuce give a good rinse or soak to get rid of any hiding in your dinner.
Harvest:
- Harvest heads when firm or leaf as needed.
Sowing periods
Celtuce originates from southern China and is a loose leaf relative of lettuce. The plant has a unique combination of lettuce-like leaves branching from a celery-like stalk. Originally known as Asparagus or Chinese Lettuce when introduced to Europe in the 1890s. In China the thick crisp, tender stalk is used in stir fries and salads, having a mild celery taste. The leaves are used like spinach in salads or cooked. Prefers to be grown in cooler months. 400 seeds.
A delicious, nutritious lettuce combination offering tender and juicy salad plants. A great combination of pick and come again varieties, with a mix colour and texture. Just add crumbled feta, walnut pieces, balsamic vinegar and olive oil and toss for a great salad in minutes. Harvest leaves as needed and to promote re-growth. 500 seeds.
A striking lettuce with thick deep red to purple outer leaves and a loose head. Adds a great contrast to a salad dominated by the ‘greenies’. While the outer leaves are a dark colour, the mature heart has green leaves & is crisp & sweet. A versatile lettuce that can be grown through summer (slow to bolt) & winter, where can of put on growth. Pick and come again or harvest mature head. 600 seeds.
An heirloom variety with light green leaves that are sweet, succulent and soft. A very early variety that has a large loose head. Harvest leaves as it is growing or the full head when mature. Has good cold tolerance. An easy choice that is suited to range of climates and soils. 500 seeds.
A butterhead variety that has green and bronze leaves with a creamy coloured (blanched) heart. Forms a head to 20cm with crisp, wavy leaves. This variety has been around for 100 years and grows particularly well in hot climates (both humid and dry), where it is slow to bolt. 400 seeds.
A classic butterhead variety that is crisp and sweet. A small tight head with thick green leaves that is naturally blanched in the middle. Triangular leaves that give it more of a fan shape. A lettuce with the highest eating quality. Slow to bolt. 500 seeds.
A beautiful French Heirloom oak-leaf lettuce. The lobed leaves form an open head that are green in the centre and ends and edges with a bronze-reddish tinge. A soft leaved lettuce with a delicate, sweet flavour. This ‘Cutting’ lettuce can be cut whole about 3cm above the stem or the leaves can be picked individually. In both cases they will regrow. 500 seeds.
A popular heirloom respected for its heat and cold tolerance, slow to bolt in summer. This butterhead variety has triangular, fleshy leaves with a wonderful flavour. A native of North America dating back to c1740. Not to be confused with Amish Deer Tongue which was cultivated over a century later. 500 seeds.
An Italian Heirloom. This butterhead variety that has attractive bright green leaves with wild frizzy, ruffled bronze edging. Not sure how the name came about as many of my good female friends have wild frizzy hair even when not drunk! A unique lettuce that is slower to bolt in summer than most other varieties. 500 seeds.
Derived from an Austrian heirloom 'Forellenschluse', this stunning romaine lettuce can be used as a ‘baby leaf’ but also makes a dashing full-sized head. Wine-red spots on a mid-green leaf darken with maturity. Mildy sweet and buttery flavour. 500 seeds.
These Cutting lettuce can be cut whole about 3cm above the stem or the leaves can be picked individually. In both cases they will regrow. Do not over feed lettuce, but keep them well watered during the summer, or grow them in half shade between sweetcorn and onions. 500 seeds
A medium sized, crisp iceberg lettuce with a firm head. We use these leaves like a mountain bread or in place of tacos for bean/rice mixes or for that Thai experience wrapped around crispy spring rolls with soy or sweet chilli sauce. 500 seeds.