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Ark of Taste Hanson Head Lettuce

Ark of Taste Hanson Head Lettuce

Regular price $3.49
Regular price Sale price $3.49
Sale Sold out
Certified Organic
6-8 Weeks Mature
Free Shipping for 12+ Seedlings

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.

Growth Timeline

  • Growing Season: Year Round (in mild climates)
  • First Harvest: You may start picking leafs as soon as there are at least 3 mature leaves (4-5" long), which takes about 3-4 weeks. Always keep at least 3 leaves on plant for vegetative growth to continue.
  • Final Harvest: 5-8 weeks

Growing Zone

Most leafy greens like the cooler temperatures, but they can generally grow year-round. You want to be aware of the extreme temperature ranges in your region. Refer to the guidelines below:

COLD CLIMATES

  • If you live in a location where the temperatures dip below freezing, hold off on growing until night temperatures are consistently in the 40's.
  • On the occasional dips into the 30's, you can cover your seedlings with a sheet overnight.

WARM CLIMATES:

  • If you regularly experience temperatures above 90 degrees, you may want to focus on herbs and heat-tolerant fruiting plants (tomatoes and peppers) instead.

To find out what extreme temperatures your location experiences, check out the USDA zone for your region.

More Lettuce Tips

  • Best Planted Wall Placement: Near the top in cooler temperatures (to maximize sun exposure), near the bottom when it's hot (for shade).
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We take great care to ensure our seedlings are healthy and well-established before they’re shipped. We pre-germinate the organic seeds and grow them up to 8 weeks before shipping them as young plants. Seedlings typically arrive within 1-4 days. For more information, see our shipping policy.

No Time to Plant?

We'll handle the planting for you! Select the "Pre-Plant" checkbox on your seedlings in the cart, and they will arrive already rooted in soil and biodegradable bags, designed to fit perfectly into your Planted Wall or container pots. Learn more below!