Organic Romaine Lettuce Chicon des Charentes - Ferme de Sainte Marthe seeds - Lactuca sativa

Lettuce 'Chicon des Charentes' is a French heirloom variety that is vigorous and highly productive. It forms large, elongated heads (sometimes over a kilogram in weight) of tender and tasty light green leaves. This hardy and resistant lettuce is sown from March until late May then from late August until September. Harvest 8 to 10 weeks later.

Lettuce is one of the most popular vegetables thanks to its deliciously fresh texture and flavour and its numerous health benefits. Generally eaten raw in salads, it is also very good cooked (with peas, for example!)

Lettuce is an annual plant that belongs to the great Asteraceae family. Its Latin name is Lactuca sativa: 'lactuca' refers to the white sap that appears when the leaves and stems are cut, 'sativa' means 'cultivated'.

Lettuce an essential member of any self-respecting vegetable garden. With so many varieties available, it can be grown almost all year round. So long as you comply with the growing calendar of the chosen variety, it is easy and quick to grow and will do well in most rich, moist soils.

Harvesting: cut off the lettuce heads at their base when ready.

Preservation: Lettuce can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator but is best eaten fresh.

Useful tip: During hot summers, lettuce exposed to direct sunlight tends to wilt and look miserable. To avoid this, protect the plants from intense sunlight by covering them with overturned crates. Summer lettuces don’t have to be grown in rows: dot them around your vegetable garden, under runner beans, in the middle of a cucumber or squash patch. They will benefit from the extra shade.

NB. Organic seeds (in French 'AB' for 'Agriculture Biologique') are produced from plants that aren't treated with phytosanitary products (insecticides, weed killers). The seeds do not undergo post-harvest treatment. They carry the AB label and are approved by Ecocert, an independent structure.