Summer and fall head lettuce variety trials
Farmer: Angie Koch, Ann Slater, Lise-Anne Léveillé, Jon Gagnon, Laurie & Corey Ahrens, Martina Schaefer, Hilary Moore, Harold Saunders, and Sarah Judd
Farm: Fertile Ground Farm, Ann Slater Organics, Beet Box Cooperative Farm, Earth to Table Farm, Edible Acres, Spiral Farm, Maplelane Farm, Saunders Family Farm, Meadow Lynn Market Garden
Region: Ontario
Publish Date: November 11, 2021
Article Type: Research Project
Research Priorities: Seed Production, Selection & Breeding
The growers’ objective was to document the best summer and fall head lettuce across different farms throughout southern and eastern Ontario during the 2020 season.
In a Nutshell
- Magenta, Muir, and Nevada were the top varieties with respect to overall vigor, flavour, and germination in the summer.
- Green Star was the growers’ least favourite variety overall in the summer.
- Magenta, Ruby Sky, and Red Mist (from Vitalis Organic Seed) were the top varieties with respect to overall vigor in the fall.
- Encino was the growers’ least favourite variety overall in the fall.
- Red Mist (from another seedhouse) had poor germination rates, demonstrating that seed source – and not just variety – matters.