Organic 'Tom Thumb' Lettuce

Organic 'Tom Thumb' lettuce (Lactuca sativa), offered by the seed company Aimers

This heirloom variety of butterhead lettuce forms very small, compact heads, about the size of a tennis ball. The dark green, fleshy leaves enclose a tender, creamy-yellow heart, offering a mild texture and delicate flavor. Heat-tolerant and resistant to bolting, it's ideal for individual salads and small spaces.

Propagation: Direct sowing in open ground
Plant height: 15 to 20 cm
Package size: Approximately 1,000 seeds
Harvest time: Approximately 60 days
Frost tolerance: Frost resistant
Companion plants: Radishes, carrots, onions
Incompatible plants: None notable

Planting and maintenance:
Sow as soon as the soil can be worked in spring, then continue sowing every two weeks as long as the weather remains cool. Sow at a depth of about 3 mm, in rows spaced 45 cm apart, in rich, well-drained soil, in full sun. Thin the seedlings to about 25-30 cm apart to allow for the formation of good-sized heads. Maintain consistent moisture and harvest the heads whole before they go to seed to preserve their sweetness.