VegetableLettuce
Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce
Dating back to the early 1740s, Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce gets its name from thick, sharply triangular leaves that actually resemble deer tongues. This rugged heirloom variety has been cultivated for over 100 years in the Northeast, prized by the Amish for its heavy production and remarkable hardiness. Growing 5-10 inches tall and spreading 10 inches wide, it thrives in zones 2-10 and delivers its first harvest in 40-49 days. The compact, solid plants produce pleasantly sharp-flavored leaves that maintain their texture even under stress.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Growth Stats
10 in
Height
10 in
Width
Spacing
8
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
2-10
Size
10in H x 10in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
What sets Deer Tongue apart is its combination of historical significance and practical resilience. This variety has earned a place on Slow Food's Ark of Taste as one of over 200 delicious foods in danger of extinction. The unique sharply triangular leaves grow in a compact, solid habit that maximizes production in small spaces. Unlike many lettuces that bolt quickly or turn bitter under pressure, Deer Tongue shows remarkable tolerance to both heat and cold, making it reliable across an unusually wide range of growing conditions.
Common Uses
This cut-and-come-again lettuce excels in salads where its pleasantly sharp flavor adds complexity beyond typical mild lettuces. The thick, triangular leaves with thin midribs provide good texture that holds up well to dressings and doesn't wilt easily. Its oak leaf type growth habit makes it perfect for harvesting individual outer leaves while allowing the center to continue producing, extending the harvest season significantly.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date for an early spring harvest, giving this cool-season crop a head start in the garden.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors about 4 weeks before the last frost, as Deer Tongue shows good cold tolerance and can handle light frosts.
Direct Sow
Direct sow beginning about 4 weeks before the last frost and continue successive sowings until about 2 weeks before the first fall frost for continuous harvests.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting outer leaves when plants are well-established, typically 40-49 days from seeding, though some sources suggest up to 50 days. Use the cut-and-come-again method, taking individual triangular leaves from the outside while leaving the growing center intact for continued production. Harvest late spring and summer sowings promptly to beat bolting, especially during hot weather when plants may turn bitter if left too long.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Lactuca sativa
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Lactuca
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Deer Tongue lettuce traces its roots to the early 1740s and has been cultivated continuously for over 100 years throughout the Northeast. This variety became particularly valued within Amish communities, who selected and preserved it for its exceptional ruggedness and heavy production. The Amish tradition of careful seed saving ensured this lettuce survived through generations, maintaining its distinctive triangular leaf shape and robust growing habits. Today, Hudson Valley Seed notes that Deer Tongue has earned recognition on Slow Food's Ark of Taste, highlighting its status as a heritage variety at risk of disappearing from cultivation.”