Amish Deer Tongue lettuce is a fast-growing heirloom variety valued for its flavour, productivity, and versatility. Unlike many lettuces grown only for salads, this variety can be eaten fresh when young or lightly cooked as a spinach substitute once the leaves mature.
With its distinctive triangular leaves and steady regrowth, Amish Deer Tongue is well suited to home gardens where regular harvesting is preferred over single harvest crops.
About Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce
Amish Deer Tongue is a loose-leaf lettuce traditionally associated with Amish and early American gardens. It is classified as a cut-and-come-again lettuce, meaning leaves can be harvested continuously without removing the entire plant.
The young leaves are mild and slightly nutty in flavour. As the plant matures, the central ribs become firmer and more pronounced, developing a gentle bitterness that remains pleasant, particularly when cooked.
The exact origins of the variety are unclear, though it is considered an old, well-established heirloom adapted to long cultivation and seed saving.
Climate & When to Plant
- Grows best in cool to temperate climates
- Suitable planting times:
- Year round in warm to mild regions
- Spring to late summer in cooler climates
- More heat tolerant and slower to bolt than many lettuces
- Performs well with light shade in warmer weather
From sowing, leaves are ready to harvest in as little as 5 weeks.
Soil Preparation
Like most lettuces, Amish Deer Tongue prefers a fertile, moisture-retentive soil.
- Ideal soil is:
- Humus-rich
- Well-drained
- Consistently moist
- Before planting, incorporate:
- Compost
- Aged cow manure
- Blood and bone or similar organic fertiliser
Good soil preparation is key to tender leaves and steady regrowth.
Sowing & Planting
Growing Fronm 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.
Transplanting
- Seeds may be started in small pots
- Transplant once seedlings are well established
- This method helps protect young plants from slugs and snails
Space plants 20 cm apart, or closer if harvesting young leaves frequently.
How to grow Amish Deer Tongue lettuce & Basic Care
Growing
- Position:
- Full sun to afternoon shade
- Watering:
- Medium water requirements
- Never allow soil to dry out completely
- Feeding:
- Liquid organic fertiliser every 2 weeks during active growth
- Mulching:
- Helps retain moisture and reduce soil splash
Plants respond well to regular harvesting and consistent care.
Harvesting
Amish Deer Tongue is harvested using the cut-and-come-again method.
- Begin harvesting once leaves reach usable size
- Options:
- Remove outer leaves only
- Cut leaves above the crown, leaving the centre intact
- Always leave the central growing point if continued harvest is desired
Regular harvesting encourages fresh, tender leaf production.
Culinary Uses
This lettuce is unusually versatile.
- Young leaves:
- Eaten fresh in salads
- Mature leaves:
- Lightly sautéed
- Used as a spinach substitute
- Mild bitterness when older suits cooked dishes well
Its texture and flavour make it suitable for both raw and cooked preparations.
Seed Saving
Amish Deer Tongue is well suited to seed saving.
- Allow selected plants to bolt and flower
- Collect seed once flower heads dry
- Store seeds in a cool, dry place for future planting
Saving seed helps maintain vigour and adaptability over time.
Fact-Check Notes
- Fast growing and productive ✔
- Cut-and-come-again habit ✔
- Mild, nutty flavour when young ✔
- Increasing bitterness with age ✔
- Suitable for raw and cooked use ✔
- Slow to bolt compared to many lettuces ✔
- Good candidate for seed saving ✔
Amish Deer Tongue lettuce is a practical, adaptable leafy green that fits comfortably between salad crops and cooking greens — making it a valuable addition to the home garden.
You can let a few plants run to seed and collect the seeds for the next seasons lettuce crop.