Jadeite Lettuce

A fantastic green mini romaine with a dense head and sweet buttery leaves. A Wild Garden Seed original.

Crop Species: Lactuca Sativa

Crop Family:  Asteraceae

Seed Story

What lettuce is strongest in the Force?

Jadeite was the winner of our 2019 lettuce trials.

This is a little green romaine lettuce bred by Frank Morton of Wild garden Seeds. It came from a cross between Winter Density and Dark Green Romaine.

We were looking for a compact little lettuce to add to our seed catalog. Something nice and tidy that fits cosily into a garden and is perfect for a 1-2 person salad.

Jadeite not only held well and looked good in the field, but it delivered a sweet crunch in our taste trials too! Not to mention winning Cutest Lettuce In Show.

Sometimes, we keep a variety in trials for a couple of years to make sure we really want it in our catalog. And sometimes, you find a Jadeite and it makes the cut immediately.

So, what lettuce is strongest in the Force?

Well, Jadeite obviously! 

As my co-farmer Julien pointed out, Jadeite can sort of be pronounced Jedi in French.

HOW TO HARVEST

Lettuce can be grown as a head or as a baby salad green.

To harvest lettuce as a  baby salad green - cut when leaves have reached desired size. Cut above the growing tip to allow for regrowth and multiple harvester.

To harvest full lettuce heads, wait until the lettuce has formed a head and then cut at the base of the plant. Remove any damaged outer leaves. (Butterhead varieties will make a ball in the centre. Romaine varieties will be tall and compact)

HOW TO GROW

Planting Information

• Luminosity: Full Sun
• Seed Depth: 0.5cm (⅛”)
• Germination Temperature: 20C
• Days to Germination: 7-14 days depending on temperature
• Notes: Lettuce requires cool temperature and minimum light for germination. In mid summer, consider using shade cloth or placing seedlings away from the heat of the sun. 
• Earliest Planting Date: April - after last chance of heavy frost
• Latest Planting Date: late August in field
• Planting frequency: 2-3 weeks for continual harvest
• Days to maturity: 40-50 days
• Harvest period: early Jun - early November
• You can start Lettuce indoors or outdoors.

Directions To Start Indoors

• For lettuce heads
• Weeks indoors: 4 weeks
• Plant outdoors: Row spacing: 25-30cm (10-12”) and In row spacing: 30-45cm (12-18”)

Directions for Direct Seeding:

• For baby salad greens
• Seeding Rate: 1-2 seeds per cm (30-50 seeds per foot)
• Row Spacing: 5-10cm (2-4”)
• Notes: Seeds can germinate in soils as low as 5C. In hot weather, keep seedbed cool and moist.
• If direct seeding full heads, follow the spacing Direction To Start Indoors

HOW TO KEEP SEEDS

• Lettuce does not easily cross pollinate with other lettuces. It is very easy to keep true to type.
• Lettuce is an annual plant that will produce seed its the first year
• Allow lettuce head to bolt and elongate
• Consider removing bottom leaves to promote airflow and prevent disease
• Begin harvest when flowers have formed clusters topped with white fluff
• Not all seed clusters will be ready for harvest at once. The entire stalk can be harvested when 50% of the clusters are mature, or you can return every day to harvest newly matured clusters
• Harvest by shaking into a paper bag and leave to dry for 3-6 days
• Use a colander to separate seeds from any fluff or chaff.
• Winnow seed from chaff with an electric fan
• Store seed in a cool dry location.