Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners - Variety Details

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'Black Seeded Simpson' Lettuce

Sub-Category:	Looseleaf

Sub-Category 2:
Description:	Heirloom. Looseleaf type. Light-green, crumpled leaves can be picked very young and are never bitter. Stands hot weather and drought. Resistant variety. Resistance to downy mildew and white mold. Heat, bolting and tip burn tolerant. Also known as 'Henderson's Black-Seeded Simpson'. About 42 to 46 days to maturity.
Days To Maturity:	42-46
Seed Sources:	Gurneys Seed & Nursery Co. - updated in 2019 Underwood Gardens - updated in 2016 BBBseed - updated in 2016

Rating Summary

Overall: (4.2 Stars) Taste: (4.1 Stars) Yield: (4.6 Stars) Ease/Reliability: (4.5 Stars)

Reviews

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Number of Reviews: 38

KEY: O=Overall Rating, T=Taste, Y=Yield, E=Ease

Reviewed on 03/19/2021 by v_gardener - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Westchester, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Not Sure Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
The Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce is a wonderful leaf lettuce. Light green colored and tastes great in salads, although I do prefer the buttercrunch lettuce variety for its firmer texture. This variety did bolt earlier than my red leaf lettuce variety and buttercrunch variety, but it was overall a productive lettuce that I very much enjoyed. Very easy to grow so good for beginners.

Reviewed on 10/18/2017 by Debbie L - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Orange, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Easy to grow, mild flavor.

Reviewed on 10/05/2017 by CCE Oneida County - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Oneida, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce grew well early and late in the season.

Reviewed on 09/11/2017 by DaScott - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Rensselaer, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Great yield, but very little flavor. Slow to get bitter.

Reviewed on 07/12/2017 by CCE Nassau County NY - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Nassau, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Planted seeds on April 11. Germinated well and was ready for harvest on May 16.

Reviewed on 06/15/2017 by Wayne County CCE - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Wayne, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
This has always been a favorite of mine due to the ease of growing, it has never failed me. Lettuce has a mild flavor and great for salad or sandwich.

Reviewed on 01/12/2017 by Peggy\'s patch - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Crawford, Pennsylvania, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Dependable, mild, and productive. Thin it early.

Reviewed on 03/16/2014 by alan m - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Orange, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
a goo dearly lettuce

Reviewed on 12/18/2013 by CCE Seneca County - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Seneca, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This was a great performing lettuce. Very prolific and tasty! Easy to grow.

Reviewed on 12/04/2013 by kcolarusso - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	St. Lawrence, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Grows well in Upstate NY

Reviewed on 11/27/2013 by CCEOnondaga - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Onondaga, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
It's not the most unique lettuce one can grow, but always reliable for us both at the cooler ends of the season and during the hot mid-season. It's light green color is a beautiful contrast when paired with a red leaf or a darker green leaf lettuce.

Reviewed on 11/25/2013 by Debbie L - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Orange, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Easy to grow. Nice flavor. Slow to bolt.

Reviewed on 11/11/2013 by CCE Oneida County - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Oneida, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Always a favorite. Good variety to plant early because it has a tendency to bolt as warm weather comes. We plant this along with red sails lettuce and it is a nice visual effect in our demonstration garden.

Reviewed on 12/05/2012 by ClaudiaH. - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Cortland, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Black Seeded Simpson is easy to grow producing well. The flavor gets bitter when the plants get old.

Reviewed on 11/16/2012 by Roger1963 - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Schuyler, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Did well and lasted for a good time. Heat finally got it. Good taste

Reviewed on 10/30/2012 by Chautauqua CCE - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Chautauqua, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Great early variety...be careful of it bolting as soon as it gets warm! We had to throw out a \"bed full\" because it got bitter so quickly. We re-seeded and harvested earlier and got great results. We cut back a couple of times before replanting a third time.

Reviewed on 10/23/2012 by Roots & Wisdom - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Schenectady, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Nice looking and tasted great.

Reviewed on 10/22/2012 by CCE Oneida County - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Oneida, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Easy to grow. Fast to germinate. It is a good variety to grow early because it will be one of the first to bolt.

Reviewed on 10/22/2012 by nmeohen1 - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Cortland, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
The bunnies like this one too!

Reviewed on 10/19/2012 by CCE Seneca County - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Seneca, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Also grew buttercrunch and red sails and this was our least favorite of the three varieties. The flavor was more bitter than the other two varieties. But it grew well.

Reviewed on 09/25/2012 by Debbie L - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Orange, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Nice tasting lettuce that was easy to grow and slow to bolt. Did not bolt until mid July.

Reviewed on 09/11/2012 by LouLou - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Wayne, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Black seeded simpson was a good early spring variety. However, it wasn\'t a good germinator during this hot dry summer. An attempt at a second planting in July resulted in very sparse growth and had to be repeated twice more to get a complete row of plants. This lettuce is tasty and worth growing but cool weather is a must.

Reviewed on 03/18/2012 by kansa - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Dickinson, Kansas, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This is a very easy to grow lettuce for areas prone limited spring time weather. Rarely bolts and does not get really bitter when it gets hot. You can also start growing in August to have available almost year round with protection. I grow this every year.

Reviewed on 10/02/2011 by Ferdzy - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Ontario, Canada Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Absolutely reliable. When all the other lettuces fail, this one will come through. Has overwintered for us under a cold-frame, although it was bitter until it started growing again. Tolerant of both heat and cold, and fairly resistant to bolting. A standard lettuce for us.

Reviewed on 08/15/2010 by YorkerJenny - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Onondaga, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
It bolted very late and it's taste was not bitter. So, it makes one of the lettuces worthy to grow. I gave 4 stars to eas/reliability, because I started the seeds indoor.

Reviewed on 05/30/2010 by bobdodster - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Rapidly matures and tastes great but is very quick to bolt as soon as hot weather hits.

Reviewed on 01/25/2009 by morgan in austin - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Travis, Texas, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Grows well in winter/spring in Texas. Flavor/texture very soft and delicate. I can devour huge bowls of the stuff, and that's good because when it starts growing, there is a lot of it to eat. Of course eventually it bolts and goes bitter --what lettuce doesn't? -- and you can't grow it in the south in June-September. Right now in January it's doing great.

Reviewed on 12/28/2008 by lbroer - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Bartholomew, Indiana, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: Less than 6 hours per day
Great taste and keeps a long time in the fridge.

Reviewed on 07/20/2008 by brivari - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Suffolk, New York, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Just the best lettuce ever! Grow it in windowbox type containers and harvest leaves as needed, overwinter in a sunny window for year round harvest. In the heat of summer (90+ degrees) move to an afternoon shade area and it won't bolt or go bitter.

Reviewed on 01/09/2008 by Lewis - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Cumberland, Illinois, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This is an excellent traditional green lettuce. Produced well, and easy to grow. I always picked it young, and it made a terrific salad.

Reviewed on 06/10/2007 by mcscience - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Suffolk, New York, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Reminds me of my childhood. It's easy and pretty, especially with a sweet red salad dressing.

Reviewed on 03/07/2007 by FK - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Monroe, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
You'll get more salad than you can eat.

Reviewed on 05/02/2006 by JackiMac - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Jefferson, Alabama, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Turned VERY bitter when a warm spell hit in Jan. I had never tasted this lettuce before and it is NOT for the south and it DOES indeed turn very bitter. Our winter wasn't very cold this year...near the low 30's from early Dec. to mid Jan. temps didn't reach above the 60's and this lettuce still was bitter all season.

Reviewed on 03/31/2006 by FlipTX - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Harris, Texas, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
This is a nice, tender light green lettuce, very good for colder climates or winter growing in more temperate areas. We had an unseasonably warm patch with days in the 70s and 80s and my lettuce turned fairly bitter.

Reviewed on 01/21/2005 by Patrick Conner - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Georgia, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Not a good choice for southern gardens. Tends towards bitterness as compared to some newer types.

Reviewed on 10/22/2004 by rita - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Maryland, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Mild flavored, light green leaves. Easy to grow. Very reliable. Can be sown in coldframe for winter harvest.

Reviewed on 09/13/2004 by Catskills - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Ulster, New York, United States Frost Free Season: Fewer than 103 days Soil Texture: Not Sure Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Never disappoints. Likes cool, even a little shade in my garden to keep going.

Reviewed on 09/09/2004 by GarlicGrower - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Tompkins, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This is the real workhorse lettuce in my garden. I plant in both rows and patches for 'cut and come again' crop.

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