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: Year Round (in mild climates)
- Harvest Method: Grazing method, cut and come again, start harvesting as soon as there are 5 mature leaves (4-5" long)
- First Harvest: 2-4 weeks from initial planting (2 weeks during peak growing seasons, 4 weeks during cold winter months)
- Final Harvest: 5-8 weeks
- Best Planted Wall Placement: Any level
We grow with the seasons! So in most climates, you will be able to grow year round. Typically most lettuce can handle the cooler temperatures and tend to look for the shade in the hotter temperatures.
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 until night temperatures are in the 40's consistently.
- On the occasional dips into the 30's, you can cover with a sheet or bring them indoors for that time period. The breeze is good for plants and helps to keep bugs at bay so growing outdoors is optimal.
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 always ship our organic seedlings at their peak for transplant which means they can be held before shipping. We typically ship plants according to the following schedule:
CA - ship Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
US states outside of CA - ship Mondays and Tuesdays.
Outside of US - we do not currently ship outside of the US.
For more information, refer to our shipping policy.
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.
