Lettuce, Chef’s Choice Mesclun Lettuce Seeds

Variety Info.:

Botanical Name: Assorted species

Days to Maturity: 21–45 days

Family: LETTUCES and ENDIVE: Asteraceae; ARUGULA and MUSTARD: Brassicaceae

Native: LETTUCE, MUSTARD, and ENDIVE: Unknown. ARUGULA: Africa and Asia

Hardiness: Frost-tolerant annuals

Plant Dimensions: Leaves are harvested at 4″–6″ tall for mesclun.

Variety Information: LEAF LETTUCES: ‘TANGO’: Deep green, serrated leaves, mildly tangy. ‘ROYAL OAK LEAF’: Medium green, deeply lobed, oak leaf shaped leaves, mild flavor. ‘RED SALAD BOWL’: Deeply lobed, green and bronze/red leaves. ‘RED SAILS’: Dark red, crinkled leaves with frilly edges, an All-America Selections winner. ‘BLACK SEEDED SIMPSON’: Crinkled, light green, crisp leaves with frilly edges. ‘GRAND RAPIDS TBR’: Medium green, curled leaves with frilled edges. OTHER GREENS: ARUGULA (rocket salad): Soft, medium green deeply lobed leaves, rich and peppery with a hint of nut. GREEN ENDIVE: Finely-cut leaves with mild overall flavor ending in a slight tang. MIZUNA MUSTARD: Thin, serrated, light green leaves, slightly peppery, mildly spicy.

Attributes: Good for Containers

Sowing Info.:

When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 40°F, ideally 60°–70°F. Successive Sowings: Every 3 weeks until 2 weeks before your average first fall frost date. Mild Climates: Also sow in fall for winter harvest.

When to Start Inside: Transplanting is not recommended, although mesclun can be grown indoors on a sunny windowsill or under grow lights.

Days to Emerge: 5–14 days

Seed Depth: Surface to ⅛”

Seed Spacing: Broadcast about ½” apart

Thinning: Not required for baby greens

Growing Info.:

Harvesting: Harvest leaves with scissors 2″ above the soil surface. Mesclun will regrow and provide 2–3 harvests, although the first harvest is usually the best. If you wish to harvest mature heads, cut off at 2″ above ground level as soon as possible after head forms; new leaves will grow form the center. The earlier the harvest, the more tender the crop.