100% Certified Organic & Demeter Certified Bio-Dynamic Seed
Grown, harvested, dried and packed on Transition Farm
NOTE - If ordering from Western Australia, please check the POSTAGE page for further information
Lettuce 'Reine d' Glaces'
Lettuce 'Reine d' Glaces'
Lactuca Sativa
Translated as "Queen of Ice”, this crisphead lettuce is a French heirloom, dating back to the 1800's. With ornately toothed glowing, green, finely toothed wrapper leaves blanching a crunchy white heart, she is regal. The complex sweet and mineral flavour combines with the crisp, attractive smaller leaves and bi-coloured heart to make this a chef's favourite. Thrives in Spring and Autumn.
Reine d' Glaces was the first lettuce we grew as a seed crop. We have had kilometers of field space dedicated to this lettuce, trialing seeds from many companies which were neither true to type nor uniform – until we tried Wild Garden Seeds' Reine d' Glaces. Frank Morton had maintained the variety exquisitely and we could finally offer this lettuce to well-known chefs in Melbourne who adored it! Simply dressed with a wild rocket vinaigrette, this lettuce was a stand-alone plate!
But in order to be able to harvest our pre ordered weekly quota, we had to sow double the number of heads EVERY week! With even a whiff of heat on our long days in late December and January, she bolted overnight, changing her flavour from complex to bitter. We are indebted to this Queen for showing us what breeding to climate and locale has to offer.
We have continued to grow Reine as a seed crop each season since, continually selecting for a larger harvest window and a better resilience to heat and light – not a quick bolter. She still finds the longest days with our high UV index too harsh – she is a parasoled queen. But that has endeared us more to her as we love varieties that have their sweet spots -they are usually hard to find and worth the search.
She will reward you for gracing her your garden space throughout Spring and then replant her in mid-February for her to shine again in late Summer and Autumn!
Note: This is based on our experiences in Southern Victoria, Australia
We are in our 5th season of seed production of ‘Reine de Grace’ refining the head formation, the days to maturity, and the resistance to bolting through extreme temperatures
SEED COUNT: 250, 1000, 5000 approx.
Germination Rate : Lot#12381 250 seed count 92% Apr 2024
Lot#12381 1000, 5000 98% Apr 2024
PLEASE NOTE: We do not authorize the repackaging of our seed without written permission
Seed Raising, Growing and Harvest Information
| Plant Type | Site | Spacing | Height | Sowing Depth |
Days to Germination |
Days to Maturity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardy Annual | Full Sun | 25cm apart in rows 25cm apart |
20cm | 3mm | 4-6 days @ 16-20°C |
50 days |
TRANSPLANT - Sow indoors early Spring, 2 seeds per cell, barely covering seeds with fine vermiculite, 3–4 weeks before transplanting outdoors. Thin to 1 plant/cell. Shade the flats on sunny, warm days if necessary to keep the soil surface cool, below 24°C, until germination. Harden seedlings by reducing water and temperature for 2-3 days before planting outdoors. Properly hardened transplants can survive temperatures as low as 0°C.
DIRECT SOW - Lettuce is hardy and can be planted as early as the soil can be worked. It is a cool weather crop and grows best at temperatures of 16-18°C. Seeds germinate even at low, 4°C, soil temperature, but poorly above 24°C. Sow seeds 2.5cm apart in rows 25-30cm apart. Lightly cover and keep moist. Enjoy thinnings ultimately leaving 25cm between plants. Ample water grows the sweetest lettuce. Careful variety selection is important for hot weather plantings. Sow every 3 weeks for a continuous supply of fresh lettuce.
