How to Grow Black Seeded Simpson Leaf Lettuce
About Black Seeded Simpson
This lettuce is one of the most popular loose-leaf lettuces in home gardens. Why!?! Simply because these fast-growing greens have a light, sweet taste. The leaves are a light lime-green color and are slightly curled. Plant some today, and you can be harvesting this tasty lettuce in less than six weeks. Also, use this article on “How to grow Black Seeded Simpson” as your guide to a very successful crop of greens.
Black Seeded Simpson is a very thin lettuce. It wilts easily. As a result, harvest it in the morning when temperatures are the lowest. Avoid harvesting in direct sunlight. Once the leaves are cut bring them indoors quickly.
Succession planting helps to spread out the harvest.
Use this tasty green in salads and on sandwiches. You can use them in any recipe that calls for lettuce greens.
Did You Know? While Black Seeded Simpson lettuce has been cultivated since the sixth century or earlier, it wasn’t introduced to the United States until 1879.
Black Seeded Simpson Plant Specifications
Days to Harvest: 30 – 50 days
Plant height: 12 to 18 inches tall.
Light Needs: Full to partial sunlight.
Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.0
Plant Hardiness Zones: 2 – 10
Deer Resistant? No. Deer will eat these leafy greens.
Plant Type: Annual
Native To: Asia Minor
Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa
Other Names: Carter’s Long Stander
Light Requirements
Black Seeded Simpson lettuce is a cool-weather plant. It is the most heat-sensitive of all lettuce varieties. They wilt and suffer sun scald in hot, direct sunlight. The plant grows best in full sun in cooler areas of the country. However, during mid-summer heat and humidity, grow them in partial shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is the hottest. In hotter regions of the country, grow the plants in light sun to partial shade.
How to Grow Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce
The trick to growing this cool-weather salad green, is to grow it fast. Therefore, it is important to provide the ideal growing conditions in your home garden. These lettuce seeds are very fine. Of course, as its name implies, the seeds are black. You can plant these seeds in a row, or broadcast them over an area. When planting in rows, thin to 6″ apart, in rows 12-18″ apart. Then, cover the seeds with a very fine layer of loose soil or seed-starting mixture. Water lightly after planting.
Tip: Some people sprinkle the seeds on top of fine soil, and just water them in.
Black Seeded Simpson is not a candidate for transplanting. Sow seeds directly in your garden. Also, they also grow well in an outdoor container on your patio or deck. When it comes time to harvest, just step outside your door and snip as many leaves as you need.
All lettuce varieties grow best in cool weather. And the plants like lots of moisture. Grow lettuce plants in full sun, in rich, well-drained soil. Liquid fertilizer works well. Weed once or twice early n their growth cycle. Without competing with weeds, the plants will grow better, and it makes harvesting easier.
Plant successive crops for a constant supply of lettuce. Plant small sections in your garden every couple of weeks.
Days to Harvest: Here’s good news- – your Black Seeded Simpson lettuce is ready to harvest in as little as 45 days or less.
Also, See:
Soil Temperatures – germination temperature by vegetable
Ideal Soil pH – by vegetable plant
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce - Insects and Pests
Bunnies like all kinds of lettuce greens. Got bunnies!? Then, a rabbit fence is in your future.
Despite a short, fast growth cycle, a variety of insects like this lettuce. We recommend you avoid any insecticides on leaf lettuces.
Slugs are a real problem for all types of lettuces. There are a variety of control methods. More on Slugs and snails.
Plant Disease
Black Seeded Simpson lettuce grows quickly and has a short life span. Disease problems are few, except in wet weather. In hot weather, they can get bitter, and they can rot.
Harvesting Lettuce
Pick lettuce leaves as soon as it is big enough to use, abut fur to five inches. We recommend harvesting with a clean, sharp scissors. Further, the plant will re-grow, too. But, after a while, it’s good to have a vigorous new patch to harvest from.
The plants will bolt in hot weather.
Plant Hardiness
Like other lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson lettuce thrives in cooler weather, with moderate moisture. It is not fond of mid-summer heat, or dry conditions. Many gardeners will plant a crop for spring and early summer harvest, leaving the mid-summer months to the tomatoes and the corn. Then, as the late summer heat begins to wane, they plant a new lettuce crop for a fall harvest.
The plants should survive a light frost, too.
Lettuce and Salad Recipes
As noted above, Black Seeded Simpson can be used in other lettuce recipes. Thus, don’t hesitate to use it in your favorite salad recipes. For example, use it in these recipes:
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