Black Seeded Lettuce 'Simpson' – Seeds (Lactuca sativa)

The Black Seeded Simpson is one of the most popular heirloom lettuce varieties, prized for its tender, crinkled, light-green leaves and mild, delicate flavour. A fast-growing, early maturing leaf lettuce, it produces abundant loose heads that can be harvested young as baby leaves or allowed to mature for larger harvests.

This variety is particularly valued for its tolerance to heat compared to other lettuces, making it a reliable choice for continuous cropping throughout the season. Ideal for fresh salads, sandwiches, and garnishes.

How to Grow

• Sow outdoors: March – August, thinly in rows 30 cm apart

• Sow indoors/under cover: February – March for early crops

• Depth: 0.5 cm, cover lightly with soil

• Thin/Plant spacing: 20–25 cm apart

• Position: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained

Key Features

• Loose-leaf heirloom lettuce with crinkled, tender leaves

• Fast-growing and early maturing

• Heat-tolerant and slow to bolt

• Excellent for cut-and-come-again harvests

• Great for salads, wraps, and garnishes

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February – August

• Harvest: April – October