Tennis Ball Lettuce
Historic Variety
- Organic
- Heads grow to 7 inches
- Soft textured rosettes
- Black seeded
- Butterhead lettuce
- 50 days
- ±31,000 seeds/oz
Item Details
Small rosettes of light green leaves measure only 7" in diameter and form loose tender heads. Grown by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. According to Heirloom Vegetable Gardening by SSE member William Woys Weaver, tennis ball lettuces were often pickled in salt brine during the 17th and 18th centuries. Black-seeded. Butterhead, 50 days. ±31,000 seeds/oz.
Learn to Grow Tennis Ball Lettuce
Direct Seed: 1" Apart
Seed Depth: 1/4"
Germination: 7-14 Days
Thin: 6-8" Apart
Instructions - Sow continuously for a constant supply of lettuce. Best grown in cooler weather. Plant in full sun or partial shade.
Ratings & Reviews
3 reviews
Surefire winner.
by J. J. Steinmeier
I've not had a ton of success with lettuce in Bay Area California, but this is an exception. Tennis ball form tight heads and pack a lot of crunch. Perhaps one day I will learn to grow them without getting so much soil up in them.
My favorite lettuce
by Lazy K
LOVE this lettuce. It grew ok in containers but it really took off in my strawberry beds. I kept those beds shaded with sheets during our hot season (June) and uncovered them during our cooler rainy season (July). I've had to pick leaves from them almost every day to keep them under control. They grew so fast and big. And the taste is terrific. Buttery and tender. I can't image why I would ever want to grow another kind of lettuce.
Heirloom iceberg
by Nico
Growing at 7000’, we covered for the initial few weeks after thinning, then uncovered and let fill out. Heads are solid and crunchy. Will grow again. Reminds me of iceberg.