Amish Deer Tongue lettuce is a fast growing dual purpose lettuce, it can be used in salads even raw, or cooked as a substitute for spinach.
The young leaves have a mild taste, best described as nutty. As the leaves get older the ribs become a little bitter, however still very tasty.
This is a ‘cut and come again’ lettuce named for the triangular shaped leaves it was grown by the Amish, however this is believed to be a Asian variety that dates back many years, it is slow to bolt and fast growing
We pick the young leaves and the plant continues to grow more.
How to grow Amish Deer Tongue lettuce
You can grow this lettuce from seed.
- Plant seed directly into the garden or into a container.
- Use a humus rich soil with extra compost, cow manure and blood and bone worked through.
- You can also start it off in small pots and plant it out once the plants reach a good size, this helps protect the small seedlings from slugs and snails.
- Sow seeds on the surface and cover with a fine layer of soil.
- Keep the soil moist at all times.
- After germination water with an liquid organic fertiliser every 2 weeks when in growth to increase production.
Fast Facts
- Grow in full sun to afternoon shade.
- Season – All seasons in temperate zones, spring to late summer in colder zones.
- Seeds are small and only need a thin covering of soil. Keep moist during germination period.
- Water requirements are medium
- From seed to harvest – 5 weeks
- Height – 20cm
- Spacing – 20cm, although can be planted closer for ‘cut and com again’
- Uses – Fresh in salads, cooked or sautéed.
How to Harvest Amish Deer Tongue lettuce
You can start harvesting as soon as the leaves are large enough. You can simply cut off the outer leaves or cut off all of the leaves leaving only the crown in the centre.
If you want the plant to keep producing, (cut and come again) the leaves in the centre always need to left.
Save the seeds
You can let a few plants run to seed and collect the seeds for the next seasons lettuce crop.
When to plant Amish Deer Tongue lettuce
Warm to tropical climates, plant year round
Cooler climate zones plant from spring to summer.