'Forellenschluss' Romaine lettuce - Lactuca sativa var. longifolia

'Forellenschluss' Romaine lettuce – historic variety with crisp, speckled leaves. 

This variety is a bolt‑resistant Romaine lettuce with green‑red speckled, elongated leaves and a mildly aromatic, crisp flavor. It forms semi‑open heads, matures reliably, and is ideally suited for cultivation in open field, greenhouse, and even containers. Robust, open‑pollinated, and tolerant of fluctuating temperatures – perfect for self‑sufficiency and organic gardening.

  Origin & History

'Forellenschluss' is an old Austrian heritage variety whose roots go back to the 19th century, with early references to speckled Romaine lettuces around 1790. By the early 20th century the variety was documented under its present name. It originated through peasant selection and was preserved as a decorative, bolt‑resistant Romaine lettuce with its characteristic speckling. The name “Forellenschluss” refers to the reddish‑brown spots on the leaves, reminiscent of a trout’s markings. While such leaf patterns were often considered a flaw and bred out over time, 'Forellenschluss' remained one of the exceptions and developed into a valued specialty.

From Austria the variety spread into Central Europe and by the early 20th century also reached North America, where it became known as “Trout Back” or “Freckles.” Its striking leaf pattern and robust, bolt‑resistant nature made it a popular heirloom variety that is still cultivated in gardens today. 'Forellenschluss' is regarded as a symbol of conserving historic cultivated varieties and is preserved as an open‑pollinated alternative to modern hybrids.

  Appearance & Characteristics

The plant grows upright and forms semi‑open heads reaching about 30 cm in height. It produces numerous elongated, oval leaves with a crisp midrib and shows strong resistance to bolting. Cold‑tolerant down to around -2 °C.

Leaf details:

• Size: Large, with leaves about 15-25 cm long

• Shape: Elongated‑oval, upright growth, semi‑open head formation

• Color: Light green with characteristic reddish‑brown speckling

• Texture: Tender, crisp, and juicy with a pronounced midrib

• Flavor: Mild, fresh, slightly sweet with a subtle tang

 Usage & Cultivation Highlights

The leaves are excellent for fresh use in salads, wraps, and as garnish. Their mildly sweet flavor and crisp texture make them a true classic of spring cuisine. They are especially popular in Caesar salad, bowls, and sandwiches. In mixed salads, the decorative speckled leaves add a colorful accent and serve as a visual highlight. They harmonize beautifully with fresh herbs, citrus dressings, and light vinaigrettes, and also work well as a base for summer grill platters, providing a crunchy bed for meat or vegetables. In modern cuisine they are used in smoothies and green juices, while traditionally they were valued as a vitamin‑rich addition to soups or stews. Even in creative cooking, the leaves can be used as edible decoration for cold platters or appetizers, offering both flavor and visual appeal.

Thanks to its upright growth and bolting resistance, 'Forellenschluss' thrives reliably in open field, greenhouse, and even container cultivation. It forms uniform heads, is easy to care for, and delivers stable yields over a long period. The variety is suitable for spring and autumn cultivation, can be harvested multiple times, and thus extends the harvest season into late autumn. It shows remarkable adaptability to different soil types and climatic conditions, making it reliable even in regions with variable weather. Its good heat tolerance makes it less prone to premature bolting in subtropical summers. At the same time, it has a certain cold tolerance, ensuring stable results in early spring sowings or late autumn plantings. Even under denser planting in baby‑leaf production it remains vigorous and productive, making it an ideal choice for self‑sufficiency gardens and organic cultivation.

Compared to other Romaine lettuce varieties, 'Forellenschluss' is especially decorative due to its speckling and at the same time robust – an open‑pollinated variety with historic character and classic flavor.