Ark of Taste Hanson Head Lettuce
Introducing our Hanson Head Lettuce, a true gem from the Slow Food Ark of Taste! Originally cultivated by the Hanson family in Massachusetts, this lettuce is celebrated for its crisp texture, sweet flavor, and beautiful frilly leaves. It's a hardy heat tolerant variety that allows you to savor the taste during the warm months as well.
Support the Ark of Taste Hanson Head Lettuce- 10% of sales goes to Slow Food USA!
Here's the Heritage Story:
Hanson lettuce, a variety of Curled India lettuce, was imported into Maryland in 1800 and there improved by the Hanson family. In 1870 Colonel George Hanson conveyed the lettuce seed to the Henry Dreer Seed Company of Philadelphia, which made it a nationally significant variety. Here is how George Hansen described the lettuce himself: “this lettuce is superior in every respect to any lettuce I ever saw, for these reasons: the heads are the largest, a single one is frequently large enough for an ordinary sized family; the leaves are exceedingly crisp and tender, and (if cut early in the morning) seem to break like pipe stems; the color is of the most beautiful green without, and white within, and is entirely free from that peculiar grassy taste found in some varieties."
Plant Specifications:
Hanson Head Lettuce typically 2 to 3 weeks after planting starter plants. Harvest leaves when they reach the desired size, usually around 6 to 8 inches in length. You can either pick individual leaves or cut the entire head at the base. Harvest in the morning for the best flavor and texture.
Make sure to plant in nutrient dense soil to ensure thriving plants. You can purchase our magic organic soil and organic soil boosters (micro and macro nutrients in the form of marine-based fertilizers, worm castings, and beneficial fungi) specifically curated to help improve your soil.
- Growing Season: Most fruiting plants have their peak growing season starting in Spring and extending through Fall. They need the warm days and nights to produce fruit.
- Harvest Method: As soon as the plant bears the fruit, harvesting can begin and will continue through the season. Most fruiting plants grow through a season and then are done.
- First Harvest: Fruiting plants take longer to bear fruit and can take 2-3 months to get to a harvesting stage.
- Final Harvest: Occurs at the end of summer and into early Fall for most climates. Some plants, such as strawberries will become dormant in Winter and then pop back into action in the Spring.
- Best Planted Wall Placement: Fruiting plants, like micro-tomatoes and jalapenos, that are smaller can grow on the Planted Wall. Place micro-tomatoes and jalapenos that grow in the Planted Wall near the top so you can maximize sun and warmth during the Summer. Larger fruiting plants are intended to be grown in larger grow pots (i.e. 15 gallon pots)
Most fruiting plants prefer warmer temperatures and will be dormant or grow very slowly in mild winter climates.
You want to be aware of the extreme temperature ranges in your region. If you follow the guidelines below, you will be safe:
COLD CLIMATES
- If you live in a location where the temperatures dip below freezing, then you will want to wait to grow fruiting plants until night temperatures are in the 50's consistently.
WARM CLIMATES:
- If you live where it reaches above 90 degrees consistently, you'll want to grow heat tolerant fruiting plants (tomatoes and peppers) and herbs (basil, mint, rosemary) primarily.
To find out what extreme temperatures your location experiences, check out the USDA zone for your region.
We ship seedlings directly from our certified organic grower during specific weeks each month to ensure the we are delivering seedlings at the peak of freshness and prime for transplanting.
Don't worry we tend to over-communicate the details when it comes to logistics. You'll know when orders (both seedlings and other garden products) are shipped.