100% Certified Organic & Demeter Certified Bio-Dynamic Seed
Grown, harvested, dried and packed on Transition Farm
NOTE - WA Customers: Transition Farm Tomato, Capsicum and Chilli Seeds have been cleared for importation into Western Australia.
If ordering from Western Australia, our next batch shipment date is 18 November 2024. For more options, check the POSTAGE page.
Lettuce 'Head Cardinal'
Lettuce 'Head Cardinal'
Lactuca Sativa
With a large round head bleached from wine red to white green, crisp leaf ‘Head Cardinal’ is as attractive as it is juicy. The ruffled red leaves that are slightly savoyed move from a pinot noir colour into a glossy green white as you cut into the iceberg size head. With a sweet, juicy flavour and delightful crunch, this lettuce is tasty and gorgeous – in the garden and on the plate.
Frank Morton selected plants that made an enclosed head rather than open rosettes of the Batavian heirloom ‘Cardinale’. We have continued this selection, acclimating the variety to our high summer UV index, yielding lettuce with an iceberg head that holds in the field for longer before bolting.
Seed refined from Frank Morton at Wild Garden Seeds ‘Head Cardinal’
Certified Demeter Biodynamic and Certified Organic
SEED COUNT: 250, 1000, 5000 approx.
Germination: Lot#16321 99% 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 | 30cm apart in rows 30cm apart |
25cm | 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.