Tip top quality, unfussy and dependable, mild & sweet, tight hearts of glossy green leaves.  Even when the growing conditions are not perfect Crispino performs really well: it does not seem bothered by damp UK weather, whilst it has coped well with recent hot & dry conditions it is probably best to avoid the height of summer and sow again in August/September. Price for 75 seeds. 

Dark Roden has the most fabulous glossy, dark burgundy leaves to add flavour and colour to your meals.  Initially they resemble a lollo type (looseleaf) then they form more upright, vase-shaped plants.  They are suitable for growing in containers or the garden, picking at 6-10 weeks, and best for spring and autumn sowing.

Price for 75 seeds

Spring and Autumn lettuces

We are very used to bright green lettuces all through the year, and this is perfectly possible to produce from your own garden.  Dark leaf lettuces are a little fussier about their growing conditions and most, like Dark Roden, do not enjoy being baked by the summer heat.  They will grow but will often rush into sending up a spike to flower – this is called bolting.  It is a natural response to conditions and is nothing to worry about except that the plant is putting its energy into bolting and the flavour of the lettuce is, well let’s just say it isn’t worth eating once it starts to bolt! 

So, what can you do about this…

• Stick to sowing in the spring and autumn when the cooler conditions suit the variety. 
• Try a summer sowing in a shady (and breezy place) but be prepared to eat at a young stage before the lettuces have a chance to bolt – the shade will also keep the leaves protected from being scorched by the sun. 

Enjoy a seasonal change in the lettuces you grow as there is no need to eat exactly the same variety all year long

This particular cos, Fortaleza, features a crisp firm heart and tightly bunched bright green leaves.  These are lightly bubbled which seems to help salad dressings stay on board!  And individual leaves can be filled with ingredients to make edible servers.  All in all a perfect crunch combined with flavour for all your salad creations     Price for 75 seeds

SOW: a little seed 15mm deep every 2-3 weeks from mid-March through to July and again in September to enjoy a succession of lettuces.   You can start them in modules and transplant so that there is no need to thin. Avoid sowing lettuces in very warm weather which can halt germination. 

GROW: plant out when large enough to do so - for full hearts set out at about 30-35cm apart. You can plant them closer and then harvest some while small allowing the rest to grow into the extra spaces that you create.    Watch out for slugs and snails – they love lettuces! In the summer they will be happiest in a part shaded spot.

EAT: perfect for salad, salad and more salad… why not add fresh chopped herbs such as lemon balm, garlic chives or oregano and dress simply with balsamic vinegar and a little lemon or lime juice.    

Freckles is a lovely heirloom, combining crisp Romaine leaves with pretty crinkled glossy green leaves speckled with maroon, very tasty. Being slow to bolt this variety will be adding colour and flavour to your salads for many weeks.  It can be sown from as early as February to as late as September giving you plenty of opportunity to grow and enjoy     Price for 75 seeds

SOW: a little seed 15mm deep every 2-3 weeks in spring and summer to give you a succession of lettuces.   You can start them in modules and transplant so that there is no need to thin but avoid sowing in very warm weather.  In the height of summer these prefer to be shaded by taller plants so pop them in around crops such as leafy brassicas.  Freckles is a good choice for early protected sowing (in a coldframe or conservatory) from February and you can also sow these again in September under cloches as the weather cools.

GROW: plant out when large enough to do so at about 30-35cm apart.  Watch out for slugs and snails – they love lettuces! Being slow to bolt Freckles will be adding colour and flavour to your salads for many weeks.  You can pick this from baby leaf (when still mainly green)right up to mature heads – the flavour is great at every stage, you will notice that the colour deepens as they grow

EAT: fresh in salad – enjoy the flavour on its own or try mixing with a range of other leaves such as Salad Burnet, Okahijiki and Pak Choi. 

Fabulous looks and it looks as good as it tastes!  The very wrinkled and crinkled leaves are in dramatic shades of burgundy and maroon.  It is heat resistant for summer growing yet can be sown from early spring right through to the autumn.  It is also slow to bolt allowing you to harvest as you need them.

Price for 75 seeds. 

We recommend this as a ‘must try’ with large clusters of ruffled leaves that have a crispy sumptuousness that is very hard to describe but once tasted… rich green and packed full of flavour  75 seeds

SOW: from April to the end of summer. A little seed every 2-3 weeks will give you a succession of lettuces. You can also start them in modules to transplant if you prefer to do so.

GROW: Plant out when large enough handle at about 15-20cm apart. Watch out for slugs and snails – they love lettuces! Green Ice will grow to 30-35cm tall.

EAT: you can pick leaves as quickly as 6-7 weeks from sowing. Leave them to grow on and you can use the larger leaves to serve your salad on – before eating them of course!

One of the most popular lettuce varieties, often sold for a premium but easy to grow. This is an older variety; the hearts are white while the green leaves have red tinges to them. Best as a summer harvest from spring sowing. Price for 75 seeds.

Ice Queen grows her own emerald crown of spiky edged leaves around her heart.  This Italian heirloom, dating back to the 1880’s, is wonderfully sweet & stays crisp in summer heat whilst happy in the cool of spring and autumn.  Enjoy headed as an iceberg type or as baby leaves from 3 weeks. This seed is from an organic source.

Price for 75 seeds

Best sown in spring or autumn (lettuce germination can be erratic in hot weather) but happy growing in summer heat.  For summer germination start in trays in a shady spot, cooling the compost by watering and then leaving in the shade for a couple of days before sowing.  Move to a sunnier spot once germinated

Sweet, tender and crisp.  If you love cut-&-come-again then your first crop will be after just 4 weeks.  Even in the hottest of summers Jericho can also be grown to its statuesque tall glory and still keep all of its quality.   Price for 75 seeds. 

Lentissima A Montare has the classic tall compact heads true to its Batavian type.  It is slow to bolt.  Happy growing in full sun and cropping from June to October. Lovely leaves: even the paler crunchy ribs are very good - perfect in a Caesar Salad or used for as ‘sticks’ for dips.     Price for 75 seeds

SOW: a little seed 15mm deep every 2-3 weeks from mid-March through to July. You can start them in modules and transplant so that there is no need to thin.

GROW: plant out when large enough to do so - for full hearts set out at about 25-35cm apart. Slow growing, you are really looking at about 12 weeks before they are ready to cut

EAT: once cut these can wait a little in the fridge and stay crisp.  You can trim out the ribs and use separately to the main leaves or dimply chop together for a crunchier salad.