'Jester' Lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Origin: Philomath, Oregon

Improvement status: Cultivar

Seeds per packet: ~150

Germination tested 11/2023: 78%

Life cycle: Annual

Based on breeder Frank Morton's description, this is a lettuce we just had to try. And we strongly urge you to do the same.

From his description on the Wild Garden Seeds website: "OK — this is it. This is my favorite lettuce of all time. Not quite perfect yet, but this triple cross between 'Reine d’ Glaces', 'Merlot', and 'Flashy Troutback' has most of what I love in lettuce. Crisp as ice, glossy, juicy as an apple, perfectly proportioned for a plate or a sandwich, flashy red spackles on semi-savoyed leaves with crazy-crisped margins like a Jester's attire. Slow bolting in any season, this crispleaf type can be harvested at the open head stage, or later as a semi-tight pink-hearted blanched head."

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.