'Bijella Verão' Oak Leaf Lettuce - Lactuca sativa var. crispa

'Bijella Verão' Oak Leaf Lettuce – heat-tolerant lettuce for hot summers and Mediterranean gardens. 

This variety is a red‑brown oak leaf lettuce with an excellent sweet flavor and high heat tolerance. Fast‑growing, ideal for open field, raised beds, and balconies. Compact and cut‑and‑come‑again – perfect for hot summers and organic cultivation.

  Origin & History

'Bijella Verão' is an open‑pollinated lettuce variety from Portugal, bred in 2022 and specially developed for Mediterranean climates. It originates from the biodynamic heritage variety 'Bijella' (2011), which itself traces back to the loose‑leaf lettuce 'Till'. This places 'Bijella Verão' in a clear lineage of proven varieties, refined through careful breeding to create a new, climate‑adapted type. Its exceptional heat tolerance makes it especially valuable: even under intense summer heat in partial shade, it remains productive and germinates reliably – conditions where many other lettuce varieties fail.

The name addition 'Verão' (Portuguese for 'summer') directly highlights its suitability for hot seasons, linking Portuguese language and culture with modern biodynamic breeding. Each plant contributes to a rich diet and plays an important role in ecological diversity and food sovereignty in regions with high temperatures. This variety is maintained and preserved by Benjis Seeds.

  Appearance & Characteristics

The plant grows compact and reaches a height of about 25 cm. It develops characteristic oak leaf‑shaped leaves with upright growth, which prevents rot and makes harvesting easier. Shows good resistance to downy mildew (Bremia lactucae). It shows high heat tolerance and is briefly frost‑resistant down to about -3 °C.

Leaf details:

• Size: Medium

• Shape: Characteristic oak leaf form

• Color: Fresh green heart with red‑brown leaves

• Texture: Crisp, tender

• Flavor: Excellent sweet and aromatic taste, even in heat without any bitter aftertaste

 Usage & Cultivation Highlights

The leaves of 'Bijella Verão' are perfect for fresh summer salads, sandwiches, wraps, and as garnish. They combine a tender yet resilient texture that pairs beautifully with Mediterranean herbs. In light vegetable dishes they bring refreshing flavor, and as a decorative addition to cold platters they are a delight. Thanks to their heat tolerance, the leaves remain crisp and versatile even in the hottest summer months.

With its pronounced heat tolerance, 'Bijella Verão' thrives in open fields, raised beds, greenhouses, and even containers. Even under strong summer heat, the plant stays reliably productive and bolts much later than comparable varieties. This makes it ideal for staggered sowings at intervals of about four weeks, ensuring a continuous harvest throughout the summer. Compared to other oak leaf lettuces, this variety is especially easy to grow and forgives minor cultivation mistakes, making it an excellent choice for beginners. Its robustness and adaptability also make it a valuable variety for hot climates where fresh leafy greens are often difficult to cultivate.

In comparison to other lettuces, 'Bijella Verão' stands out with its upright growth and heat tolerance - a versatile variety for growers seeking open‑pollinated seed adapted to hot regions and appreciating sweet‑flavored salads.