Lettuce
This page is an open source resource guide for lettuce. It is for growing and maintaining the most bio-diverse, delicious, and broadly applicable lettuce selection possible. It contains cultural considerations, planting guidelines, descriptions, and the best places we’ve found for purchasing the species we’ve listed. As part of the One Community Highest Good food component of global transformation, this page will continue to evolve indefinitely to contain maintenance and care tips, accessioning and plant breeding and sharing information as part of the One Community open source botanical garden model, and even recipe’s, preparations, and preservation methods used on the property.
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LETTUCE
(Click here for lettuce purchase details)
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
| While not as nutritionally dense as some vegetables, lettuce has an important place in the diet, and has been prized by epicures since Roman times. There are loose-leaf and heading types; the former can be harvested continuously through the growing season by removing outer leaves. Lettuce greens grow best in cooler spring weather, although more heat resistant varieties are known. |
CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Lettuce is annual or biennial in mild climates
- Lettuce can grow in part-day sun or partial shade
- Hot weather can cause lettuce to bolt (go to seed)
- Steady even moisture is best, thick mulches accomplish this
- Lettuce like soils high in organic matter; avoid excess nitrogen
PLANTING GUIDELINES
Lettuce can be direct seeded and then thinned, but is more often transplanted out in beds after the last frost. Space plants so the size at maturity will form a continuous canopy in order to shade the soil and conserve moisture. Soil should be well worked and amended with compost or well-rotted animal manure. Irrigate to maintain soil moisture in the root zone; drought stress can cause lettuce to become bitter.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Wikipedia ” Lettuce
| GL#1 :: Yugoslavian Red Lettuce Yugoslavian Red is a butterhead type lettuce with red-tinged leaves, forming loose heads measuring up to 12 inches across. Cutting the head in half exposes solid green interior leaves and an almost white center. It has an excellent mild flavor and produces in about 55 days. | | GL#2 :: Paris White Cos Lettuce Paris White Cos produces 18 inch tall lettuce that is tender, delicately flavored, and especially delicious in Caesar salads. It takes about 60 days to produce edible lettuce and can then be picked and thinned for another 30 days. | | GL#3 :: Rouge D’Hiver Lettuce Rouge D’Hiver is a French heirloom red romaine also called “Red Winter.” It takes 58 days to produce and is tolerant of varying conditions; lack of attention, frost, and heat. It has a rich and buttery flavor and grows in compact, 12 inches tall heads with a tender green heart surrounded by brownish-red leaves. | | GL#4 :: Red Velvet Lettuce Red Velvet is an heirloom looseleaf type of lettuce with striking maroon leaf tops that have green-tinged-with-maroon backs. It matures in about 55 days but you can pick and eat leaves at any time. This lettuce is slow to bolt, sweet and tender to eat, and adds beautiful contrast to any green salad. | | GL#5 :: Merveille de Quartre Saisons Lettuce This French heirloom lettuce was first described in Vilmorin’s The Vegetable Garden in 1885. It is a butterhead type of lettuce that matures with pretty reddish bibb-type rosettes in about 60 days. It has a crisp texture, excellent flavor, and a dark red color that develops best in cool spring or autumn weather but also does well in a variety of conditions, including a warm climate. | | GL#6 :: Grandpa Admire’s Lettuce Grandpa Admire’s heirloom seeds are generations-old, non-hybrid varieties, many of which originated in Europe. It is a butterhead type of lettuce that matures in 60 days with bronze-tinged and crinkled leaves forming large, loose heads that are mild in flavor and almost as crunchy in texture as a romaine. It is also slow to bolt, even in extreme heat. | | GL#7 :: Crisp Mint Lettuce Crisp Mint is an easy grower with a nice mint green color. Its leaves are covered with dimple-like puckers that give it a distinctive appearance. It has a pleasant sweet taste that blends well with other lettuces for salads, and it does just fine on its own in the salad bowl. It matures in 45-55 days with an abundant harvest of compact heads that grow upright to a height of 10 inches. | | GL#8 :: Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce Amish Deer Tongue is a wild looseleaf-type Amish variety from which modern lettuce is derived. It was brought with Columbus to the new world and is valued today for its ruggedness and heavy production as a great cut-and-come-again lettuce (when thickly sown) with two-in-one properties that allow it to be cooked like spinach or used like lettuce. It matures in 45-55 days as a thick and compact plant with a pleasant and sharp flavor. | | GL#9 :: Madrilene Lettuce Madrilene is a small romaine lettuce with a 6-12 inches. (15-30 cm) upright and tight head, a large center vein, and dark green obovate leaves. It’s ready for harvest in about 35-45 days and has been described as having a “savoyed texture.” | |
We will also be growing the following additional lettuce:
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) :: GL#10 -GL#18
10. Skolar-Corrigan 11. Artic King 12. Blond du Cazard 13. Brune Percherone 14. Tom Thumb 15. Cerise Oak Leaf 16. New Red Fire 17. Bunyard’s Matchless 18. Winter Density
Lettuce Material/Seed Providers:
Lettuce Purchase Details
REF # | VEGETABLES | VARIETY | SOURCE | QUANTITY | UNIT COST | TOTAL COST |
GL#1 | Lettuce | Yugoslavian Red | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#2 | Lettuce | Paris White Cos | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#3 | Lettuce | Rouge D’Hiver | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#4 | Lettuce | Red Velvet | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#5 | Lettuce | Merveille de Quartre Saisons | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#6 | Lettuce | Grandpa Admire’s | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#7 | Lettuce | Crisp Mint | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#8 | Lettuce | Amish Deer Tongue | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#9 | Lettuce | Madrilene | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#10 | Lettuce | Skolar-Corrigan | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#11 | Lettuce | Artic King | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#12 | Lettuce | Blond du Cazard | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#13 | Lettuce | Brune Percherone | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#14 | Lettuce | Tom Thumb | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#15 | Lettuce | Cerise Oak Leaf | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#16 | Lettuce | New Red Fire | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#17 | Lettuce | Bunyard’s Matchless | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
GL#18 | Lettuce | Winter Density | SSE | 3 pkt. | $3 | $9 |
OTHER LETTUCE RESOURCES
We are seeking awesome lettuce resources. If you know of one, please click here to share it with us so we can make this page better.
LETTUCE AS PART OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN MODEL
This section will evolve to include accessioning and plant breeding and sharing information as part of the One Community open source botanical garden model.
LETTUCE PREPARATION, PRESERVATION, AND RECIPES
This section will evolve to include testimonials, recipe’s, preparations, and preservation methods used on the property first, and then later with additional information from other Highest Good collaborators and teacher/demonstration hubs.
Vegan Lettuce Wraps
Recipe courtesy of: Eat Drink and Be Skinny
Total Time: 25 min Prep: 15 min Cook: 10 min | Yield: 4 Servings Level: Easy |
Ingredients - 1 Sweet Potato
- 2 Medium Beets (2″)
- 6 Brussels Sprouts
- 4 Cloves of Garlic
- 1 T Olive Oil
- 1/2 cup Water Chestnuts
- 1/2 cup Bamboo Shoots
- 1/2 cup Slivered & Toasted Almonds
- 1 Head of Butter Lettuce
- 1 Avocado
- 4 Green Onions
- 3 T Soy Sauce
- 2 T Peach Jam
- 2 T White Wine Vinegar
| Directions - Prepare your beets, sweet potato and Brussels sprouts by chopping into tiny pieces (like 1/4″). You can use a mandolin, chop chop machine or food processor to save some time. Also chop up the water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, green onions, avocado and set aside separately.
- Prepare your sauce with 1 T minced garlic, soy sauce, jam and vinegar in a small dish and set aside.
- In a large skillet or wok, heat olive oil under very high heat with 3 cloves of chopped garlic. When the garlic is crispy and slightly browned, your oil is hot enough for cook up some veggies!
- Set a timer for 10 min and add beets first. Wait about 2 min, add sweet potatoes and wait about another 2 min. Add Brussels sprouts and then let cook together another 2-3 minutes.
- Add sauce, water chestnuts and bamboo shoots, cover and let cook until desired softness. It took me exactly 10 min total but may vary depending on the size of your veggies and heat of your pan. Remove from heat and add almonds.
- Fill each lettuce cup with 1/2 cup veggie mixture, top with green onion and avocado and serve!
|
Butter Lettuce Salad with Pistachios
Recipe courtesy of: Saveur
Total Time: 15 min Prep: 15 min Cook: Chill | Yield: 4-6 Servings Level: Easy |
Ingredients - 2 small heads butter lettuce, cored; leaves torn into large pieces
- ½ cup shelled pistachios, lightly toasted and roughly chopped
- 2 navel oranges, peel and pith removed and flesh segmented, juice reserved
- ½ cup crème fraîche
- ¼ cup finely chopped chives
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
| Directions - Combine lettuce, pistachios, and orange segments in a bowl.
- Whisk reserved orange juice with crème fraîche, 3 tablespoons chives, salt, and pepper.
- Pour over salad and toss to combine.
- Garnish with remaining chives.
|
Green Pea Lettuce & Fennel Soup
Recipe courtesy of: The Recipe Club
Total Time: 30 min Prep: 15 min Cook: 15 min | Yield: 4 Servings Level: Easy |
Ingredients - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium fennel bulb, chopped (about 2 cups), fronds reserved for garnish
- 2 large shallots
- 1 medium head Bibb lettuce, cut into ½-inch strips (4 cups lightly packed)
- 1 (10-ounce) package frozen petite peas
- 1-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ¾ teaspoon fennel seeds
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
| Directions - Melt the butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the fennel and shallots.
- Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, 6 to 7 minutes.
- Add the lettuce to the pan and stir until it wilts, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Mix in the peas, broth, and 1 cup water and bring the soup to a boil.
- Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until the vegetables are just tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
- In a blender, puree the soup in batches until smooth, adding some fennel seeds to each batch.
- Combine the batches in a large bowl and return all of the soup to the same pot.
- Add the salt and pepper.
- Reheat the soup over low heat, thinning with a little water if it is too thick.
- Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish each bowl with some fennel fronds and serve.
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