Family Owned Since 1979
Cultivating Gardeners

FLASHY TROUT'S BACK

FLASHY TROUT'S BACK

Product Description:

55 days. A selection of the Austrian heirloom called Forellenschluss romaine, which is one of the most prized of all varieties. This dark green-leaved romaine is splashed with wine-red speckles. Imagine dipping a paintbrush in red paint and giving it a hard shake onto your romaine lettuce. You’ve got the picture. Your taste buds will like it too for its rich buttery flavor. Selected by Frank Morton.
  • Key Features:

ORGANIC SEED

PELLETED SEED

$4.65

$4.65

  • Key Features:

Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
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D
Deborah
Amazingly heat tolerant

I garden in SW Florida where it has been in the mid 90's with nighttime temps in the upper 70's for weeks and weeks now. I just found a beautiful little three inch high Flashy Trout's Back self-seeded in one of my pots. I did let a few plants go to seed this spring but did not get the seed collected before it got rained on too much. How this one seed ended up 8 feet away from where my lettuce was n the garden and then germinated in such heat, much less decided to grow...! I think I should let this plant go to seed and be sure to collect the seed. Is it possible to actually grow lettuce in SW Florida summer heat???

S
Sarah
My new favorite lettuce!

I have to attribute part of the success to getting pelleted seed. 100% germination and the seeds didn't get "lost" in the soil.

This is a stunning variety and has proved hardy in the unusually mild spring/summer that we've had in the Pacific Northwest. I prefer to harvest the young leaves rather than waiting for a full head and we've been getting great harvests from a modest number of plants. I will definitely plant more next year!

K
Kristine
Beautiful and Sweet Tasting

Very sweet and tender for a romaine type. It grows faster and stays more compact than other romaines I've tried. Sweet through the summer heat. Since it doesn't always form a tight head I like to harvest the outer leaves as they grow, like a loose leaf lettuce.

Great viability on 3 year old seeds.

R
RC
great winter lettuce for Louisiana

Germinates and grows fast. Tolerates crowding, mild frost. Tastes great!

Soil Temp for Germ 40–80°F
Seed Depth ⅛"
Seed Spacing 1"
Days to Emergence 2–15
Thin Plants to 10–16"
Row Spacing 16–18"
Fertilizer Needs Low
Minimum Germination 80%
Seeds per Gram ≈ 800
Seed Life 3 years

Lactuca sativa

Days to maturity are calculated from date of direct seeding.

Culture
• Lettuce performs best in cool weather, 60-70°F, and grows in a wide range of soil types
• Plant as early as soil can be worked
• For extended harvest, plant every 2-3 weeks and choose heat-tolerant varieties for summer
• Lettuce seed can be sown every month from February—October
• A cold frame and cold-hardy varieties can stretch the spring and fall growing season into the winter months
• Apply 1 cup of TSC's Complete fertilizer per 10 row feet, and 1 inch of compost
• 1 gram of seed will sow 30 row feet
• Consistent, even watering is critical for best results

Direct Sowing
• Use row cover to improve germination and prevent soil crusting
• As soon as 2-3 true leaves have formed, thin loose-leaf types to 10-14 inches apart; icebergs, butterheads, and romaines to 12-16 inches apart

Transplanting
• Start indoors 4-6 weeks before anticipated transplant date

Insects & Diseases
• Common pests: Aphids and slugs
• Pest control: Strong spray of water for aphids or applications of Pyrethrin or Neem oil, baits, traps, or Cabbage Collars for slugs

Harvest & Storage
• While picking individual leaves helps extend the season somewhat, all eventually become bitter as they begin to bolt

What is pelleted seed?
Seed that has been coated with a clay-based material to form a larger, round shape. This makes planting by hand or mechanical seeder easier and allows for more controlled sowing of small seeds such as carrots or lettuce. All pelleted seed has a National Organic Program (NOP) approved coating.
For best results, store pelleted seed in an air-tight container and use within one season.

What is seed tape?
Seed tapes are perfectly straight rows of precisely spaced crops. No more having to thin seedlings! This biodegradable tape will plant a row 5 meters (16 feet, 5 inches) long. Simply lay it in a furrow and cover with a light layer of sifted compost or soil, water and wait. Save yourself a heap of planting time with these popular vegetable and herb staples.

KEY TO LETTUCE DISEASE RESISTANCE AND TOLERANCE
HR indicates high resistance.
IR indicates intermediate resistance.
BR | Bottom Rot
DM* | Downy Mildew
F* | Fusarium Wilt
LD | Lettuce Drop
LMV* | Lettuce Mosaic Virus
Nr* | Lettuce Aphid
PM | Powdery Mildew
Rs | Corky Root
TBSV | Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus (Lettuce Dieback Complex)
* Numbers indicate specific disease race.

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