Black Seeded Simpson
Lactuca sativa
An early producer of light green, curled, tender leaves. MT0-30.
Harvest
40-50d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
6-12 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Black Seeded Simpson in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 lettuce →Zone Map
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Black Seeded Simpson · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | — | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 2 | — | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 11 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
Succession Planting
Black Seeded Simpson is a cut-and-come-again leaf type, but it doesn't keep producing through heat the way a pepper does — once it bolts, it's done for that planting. In zone 7, direct sow every 14 days starting March 1 and make your last spring sowing around April 15. After that, let the bed rest through summer. Pick back up with a fall succession starting around August 20, sowing every 14 days through late September; those plantings will carry you into November.
NC State Extension's vegetable gardening guidance notes that leaf lettuce is easily overplanted from seed — thin to 6-8 inches when plants hit their first or second set of true leaves. Pinch or snip the thinnings rather than pulling them, so you don't disturb the roots of the plants you're keeping. The thinnings are worth eating.
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: High Organic Matter. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Tiny seeds with a dandelion-like tuft (pappus) to aid in wind dispersal.
Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Harvest time: Summer
Edibility: Leaves can be used raw or cooked in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. Head lettuce can be stored for 2-3 weeks while leaf and butterhead store for 1-2 weeks.
Storage & Preservation
Immediately after harvest, rinse Black Seeded Simpson leaves in cold water and spin dry thoroughly. Store in perforated plastic bags in your refrigerator's crisper drawer at 32-35°F with high humidity. Properly stored leaves stay fresh for 7-10 days.
Unlike storage vegetables, lettuce doesn't preserve well long-term. Your best options are freezing cleaned leaves in smoothie portions (texture will be lost but nutrition remains) or dehydrating young, tender leaves at 95°F for lettuce powder seasoning. Fermentation isn't recommended as lettuce lacks the structure needed for successful lacto-fermentation.
For continuous supply, focus on succession planting rather than preservation methods. Extend fresh harvests by growing under row covers as weather cools.
History & Origin
Origin: Mediterranean to Siberia
Advantages
- +Edible: Leaves can be used raw or cooked in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. Head lettuce can be stored for 2-3 weeks while leaf and butterhead store for 1-2 weeks.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Sap/Juice): Low severity
- -Causes contact dermatitis
Companion Plants
Radishes are the most practical thing to tuck in alongside Black Seeded Simpson — they mature in 25-30 days, break up the top inch of soil as you pull them, and draw flea beetles away from the lettuce leaves. Chives and garlic work differently: their sulfur compounds disorient aphids at close range, which matters because aphid pressure on lettuce in a Georgia zone 7 spring can build faster than you expect. Keep sunflowers well away — their roots release allelopathic compounds that suppress lettuce germination, and at 6 feet tall they'll throw enough shade to stress a crop that's already on a short clock before heat ends the season.
Plant Together
Chives
Repels aphids and improves lettuce flavor while taking minimal space
Carrots
Deep roots don't compete with shallow lettuce roots, and carrots loosen soil
Radishes
Quick-growing radishes break up soil and can be harvested before lettuce needs full space
Marigolds
Repel aphids, whiteflies, and other pests that commonly attack lettuce
Spinach
Similar growing conditions and harvest times, efficient use of garden space
Garlic
Deters slugs, aphids, and other soft-bodied pests that damage lettuce leaves
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting lettuce
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs that prey on lettuce pests
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects and has similar water and nutrient requirements
Keep Apart
Sunflowers
Create too much shade and compete heavily for nutrients and water
Broccoli
Both are heavy nitrogen feeders that compete for the same nutrients
Walnut Trees
Release juglone which is toxic to lettuce and inhibits growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346388)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good tolerance to heat stress and some resistance to tipburn
Common Pests
Aphids, flea beetles, slugs, cutworms
Diseases
Downy mildew, lettuce drop, tipburn, bolting in hot weather
Troubleshooting Black Seeded Simpson
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedlings collapsing and dying at soil level within the first 7-10 days after planting, sometimes with white fuzzy mold on the soil surface nearby
Likely Causes
- Damping off — a fungal complex (often Pythium or Rhizoctonia) that thrives in cold, wet, poorly-drained soil
- Replanting in the same bed that hosted lettuce the previous 2-3 seasons without rotation, allowing pathogen buildup
What to Do
- 1.Don't water overhead in the evening — let the soil surface dry out between waterings, especially when seedlings are under 2 weeks old
- 2.Rotate lettuce out of any bed where you've had this problem; a 2-year break is the minimum
- 3.If you're starting in trays, use a sterile seed-starting mix, not garden soil dragged in from outside
Plant center shoots up fast, leaves turn bitter, and the head goes loose and tall — usually around day 45-50 in spring
Likely Causes
- Bolting triggered by daytime temperatures consistently above 75-80°F combined with long day length
- Planting too late in spring, leaving the crop exposed to early summer heat before harvest
What to Do
- 1.In zone 7, direct sow your last spring planting by late March to mid-April — anything later is racing the heat
- 2.Harvest outer leaves starting at day 40 rather than waiting for a full head; you'll get more usable leaf before the plant bolts
- 3.For a fall run, wait until late August to direct sow — soil temps above 75°F will slow germination, so check before you seed
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Black Seeded Simpson lettuce take to grow?▼
Can you grow Black Seeded Simpson lettuce in containers?▼
Is Black Seeded Simpson lettuce good for beginners?▼
When should I plant Black Seeded Simpson lettuce?▼
What does Black Seeded Simpson lettuce taste like?▼
Black Seeded Simpson vs Buttercrunch lettuce - what's the difference?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
- USDAUSDA FoodData Central
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.