Romaine
Forellenschluss is an Austrian heirloom romaine lettuce with one of the most striking appearances in the salad garden: deep red splashing and speckles that earn it a name meaning 'speckled like a trout.' This gorgeous cos variety reaches maturity in 60 days and is both beautiful and genuinely delicious, thriving in cool seasons across hardiness zones 3-11. It's frost-tolerant, making it reliable for spring and fall harvests, and needs only moderate sun to flourish.
Full Sun
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3-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual, Biennial
Moderate
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The speckled red markings on this Austrian heirloom are genuinely stunning, turning it into an ornamental crop that tastes as good as it looks. Forellenschluss matures quickly at 60 days and handles frost with ease, extending your harvest season on both ends. It asks little of you: moderate sunlight, well-drained soil, and cool temperatures bring out its best flavor and color.
Forellenschluss serves beautifully in salads where its appearance is part of the appeal, the red speckles creating visual interest on the plate. The tender romaine leaves work well in mixed green salads, wilted preparations, or as individual leaves in composed dishes. Its mild flavor and crisp texture make it equally at home in simple vinaigrettes or more elaborate salad preparations where it won't overpower other ingredients.
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your transplant date. Sow at a soil temperature of 60-70°F and expect germination in 7-10 days. Keep seedlings in bright conditions and maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging.
Transplant seedlings outdoors when they have developed true leaves and soil has warmed to at least 60°F. Space plants 8 inches apart. Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually increasing their exposure to outdoor conditions before planting.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in spring once soil reaches 60°F, or in late summer for a fall crop. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and keep soil consistently moist until germination occurs in 7-10 days. Thin seedlings to 8 inches apart once they develop true leaves.
Harvest at 60 days when heads have formed a compact, upright romaine shape. Pick individual outer leaves once they reach full size, or cut the entire head at soil level if you prefer. The distinctive red speckles intensify as the plant matures, so waiting closer to the 60-day mark brings out the most dramatic coloring. Harvest in the morning when leaves are crisp and full of moisture for best texture and flavor.
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“Forellenschluss carries the heritage of Austrian market gardeners who selected and saved this romaine variety over generations. The name itself tells the story of why it mattered to them: 'Forellen' refers to trout in German, and the distinctive red speckles reminded growers of the spotted pattern on a trout's body. This heirloom survived in seed collections and cultural memory because it delivered both visual drama and reliable, flavorful harvests in the cool Alpine climate where it developed.”