'Karen's Fave' Lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Origin: Philomath, Oregon

Improvement status: Cultivar

Seeds per packet: ~130

Germination tested 2/2024: 90%

Life cycle: Annual 

We're very excited to have this brand-new lettuce — introduced by Wild Garden Seeds in January 2024 — in the catalogue. It was named by its breeder, Frank Morton, after his amazing wife and business partner Karen Morton.

Here's what Frank says about this special lettuce: "Karen is a lettuce’s harshest critic. Two years ago she asked me what this lettuce was... “It’s the exceptional family R, dear, why do you ask?” She said it was her favorite. That was all it took to label this dark red head with the bright green insides. Full-size heads with an open habit that makes harvest easy by the leaf. Toothsome and crisp, each leaf is glossy and muscular from its wine-red tip to its apple-green base. ‘Karen’s Fave’ says it all. Space these at 12” apart in the row."

This variety carries the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) pledge, which states: “You have the freedom to use these OSSI-Pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict other's use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives.” More information on OSSI can be found at osseeds.org.