Loose-leaf
Devil's Ear Lettuce is a stunning heirloom leaf lettuce that traces its lineage to the Abundant Life Foundation, bringing with it decades of careful seed stewardship. Its defining feature is the sheer size and drama of its spreading, loose-leaf heads, with large burgundy-suffused leaves that have distinctly wavy margins. The nutty, crisp texture combined with a refreshingly bitter-free flavor makes this a lettuce worth seeking out. Reaching maturity in just 50 days, it thrives in partial shade across zones 4 through 9 and earns its place in any cool-season garden.
8-12 inches apart
Partial Shade
—
4-9
?in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
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Large, burgundy-tinged leaves with wavy edges create a visually striking head that seems to sprawl across the garden. The real draw is its gentle flavor profile: nutty and crisp without the bitterness that can turn gardeners away from lettuce. Because it's remarkably slow to bolt, Devil's Ear will stand in your garden for weeks after reaching maturity, giving you a long harvest window rather than a frantic race against the calendar.
As a loose-leaf lettuce, Devil's Ear excels in fresh salads where its large, tender leaves can shine without heavy dressing. The absence of bitterness makes it approachable for those who typically avoid lettuce, while its crisp texture and nutty undertones appeal to more adventurous palates. The sprawling growth habit also makes it easy to harvest individual outer leaves continuously, extending the productivity of a single planting.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost. Maintain soil temperature between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination, which typically occurs within 7 to 10 days. Seeds can be started in seed trays or small pots filled with moist seed-starting mix.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening off for 5 to 7 days. Space plants 8 inches apart. Transplant when soil temperature is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit, taking advantage of the variety's frost tolerance for early spring planting.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, or in late summer for a fall crop. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and thin seedlings to 8 inches apart once they develop their first true leaves. Successive sowings every 2 to 3 weeks will provide a continuous harvest.
Begin harvesting outer leaves once the plant reaches a substantial size, typically around 50 days from seed. You can harvest individual outer leaves while allowing the center to continue growing, extending the productive life of each plant. Alternatively, cut the entire head at soil level. Harvest in the morning when leaves are crisp and full of moisture. Because this variety is slow to bolt, you'll have a generous window for harvesting before the plant flowers.
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“Devil's Ear Lettuce originates from the Abundant Life Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving heirloom seeds and rare plant varieties. The foundation's meticulous work ensuring the survival and availability of open-pollinated varieties means this lettuce carries the mark of intentional preservation. Its journey from the foundation's seed archives to contemporary seed catalogs like Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds reflects the modern heirloom movement's commitment to keeping heritage crops in the hands of home gardeners.”