Silesia Lettuce Seeds (Lactuca sativa cv.)

Harvested from the Gardens at Monticello.
In his Garden Book, Jefferson recorded the sowing of Silesia Lettuce seed on May 17, 1819. Also called White Silesian, Early Curled Silesian and Curled German Batavian, this white-seeded lettuce variety dates to the 17th century and is one of the oldest varieties of non-heading lettuce cultivated in America. Due to its hardiness, this variety was often planted for overwintering in cold frames or by covering with straw. By the 1850s Silesia Lettuce was generally known as White-Seeded Simpson.

Direct sow seeds as soon as the ground can be worked in early spring in consistently moist soil, then sow again in late summer for overwintering. Approximately 100 seeds per packet.