Oak Leaf Lettuce Bijella Verão [Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa]

The annual oak leaf lettuce 'Bijella Verão' is a heat-tolerant, crisp, aromatic and robust lettuce without head formation. The sweet leaves can be harvested after just 60 days, even in Mediterranean climates. Ideal for direct sowing or pre-cultivation, pot culture possible, sowing all year round, good for mixed culture, harvesting the fresh leaves for salad.

 Description 
The oak leaf lettuce 'Bijella Verão' is an annual medium-sized, fast-growing and very compact oak leaf lettuce from Portugal. This lettuce variety was bred for a long time by farmers in Germany from old seed-stable varieties, preserved and passed on to Benji. For over 15 years, Benjis Seeds has been propagating this variety and selecting it for resistance to hot locations. The upright and tall plants are resistant to rot and can be sown all year round in subtropical climates. In temperate climates, the 'Bijella Verão' tolerates cold temperatures above 0°C with light frosts. The variety grows without head formation with a fresh green heart and delicate reddish-brown and crisp leaves that have an excellent aromatic, sweet taste. Bolt-resistant, good field storage capacity and suitable for picking lettuce cultivation.

 General information 
Plant family: Asteraceae
Life cycle: Annual
Days to harvest: 60 days
Plant height approx.: 25 cm
Root type: Shallow rooter
Nutrient requirements: Medium
Water requirements: Medium
Winter hardiness: Up to 0°C
Location: Sunny until semi shady
Soil: Permeable, humus-rich loamy soil

pH value: 5.5 to 6.5

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Light germinator
Sowing depth: 0 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 14-25 °C
Germination time: 3-8 days
Plant and row spacing: 25x30 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 3-4 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Bean, Savory, Dill, Pea, Strawberry, Cucumber, Cabbage, Leek, Carrot, Radish, Horseradish, Rhubarb, Beetroot, Salsify, Tomato, Onion
Unfavorable mixed culture: Parsley, Celery

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Direct sowing is possible all year round. Pre-cultivation in small bowls is recommended. The ideal location for the plants is partial shade.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Direct sowing is possible from March to August. Pre-cultivation in small trays from February to August is recommended. The plants should ideally be planted in a sunny location.

 General recommendations 
We recommend dense direct sowing in rows for leaf lettuce cultivation or as a pre-culture for large heads of lettuce. For pre-culture, sow the seeds in a small bowl and let the seedlings grow until the first visible lettuce leaves appear, then transplant them into the desired containers. After transplanting, let the seedlings grow at moderate temperatures until they are planted out as seedlings. Plant the seedlings in the bed from the second pair of leaves after the cotyledons.
Oak leaf lettuce 'Bijella Verão' does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
For a staggered harvest, several sowings at intervals of 4 weeks are recommended. Heat-resistant, bolt-resistant, germinates successfully even in warm temperatures. For a long harvest period, harvest 1/4 of the leaves from the outside to the inside and take care not to damage the heart in order to keep growth stable. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water storage capacity, additional incorporation of biochar and primary rock flour is recommended.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds.

 Plant care 
Loosened, nutrient-rich soil and mixed planting are sufficient for lettuce. No fertilization is necessary.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Lactuca sativa var. crispa
English names: Oak leaf lettuce, Oak leaf salad
German names: Eichblattsalat
Portuguese names: Alface de folha de carvalho
Spanish names: Lechuga hoja de roble
French names: Laitue frisée de chêne

 Origin 
Country: Portugal