Ark of Taste Tennis Ball Lettuce

Name: Ark of Taste Tennis Ball Lettuce
Brand: Planted Places
SKU: AOTTTBL4S
Price: 3.49 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

$3.49

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Certified Organic
6-8 Weeks Mature
Free Shipping for 12+ Seedlings

Tennis Ball Lettuce is named for its petite, round shape resembling a tennis ball, this lettuce variety is not just visually appealing but also packs a punch in nutritional value. Derived from the Slow Food Ark of Taste, our Tennis Ball Lettuce is a heritage gem, celebrated for its rich history and unique characteristics. This heirloom lettuce has been cherished for generations, connecting you to the roots of sustainable and diverse agriculture. 

Support the Ark of Taste Tennis Ball Lettuce - 10% of sales goes to Slow Food USA!

Here's the Heritage Story:

The Tennis Ball lettuce is a black-seeded lettuce that was one of the most popular lettuces at the turn of the 20th century. Tennis Ball lettuces grow in small tight rosettes, and have light green leaves that are silky with a slippery texture. Traditionally, Tennis Ball Lettuces were pickled in salt brine and eaten as a side dish to many meals.

Plant Specifications:

Tennis Ball Lettuce typically matures 2 to 3 weeks after planting the starter plants. Harvest the outer leaves when they reach the desired size, or cut the entire head at the base when it reaches full maturity. Harvesting regularly encourages continuous production.

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).

Quantity

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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.