Black Seeded Simpson

Family: Asteraceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sink your senses into Black Seeded Simpson’s tender, buttery leaves—cool, crisp, and delicately sweet with a clean, garden-fresh snap.

Forming a compact, romaine-leaning head, it delivers a velvety texture that stays crisp in the bowl and shines in fresh salads. Ideal for early-season harvests at about 45 days, this classic lettuce rewards home gardeners with dependable, uniform heads and a beautifully mild flavor.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Black Seeded Simpson

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Black Seeded Simpson Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 9th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 18th	Jul 2nd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 12th	Jun 26th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 6th	Jun 20th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 15th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	Apr 27th	Jun 11th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	Apr 24th	Jun 8th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 18th	Jun 2nd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 13th	May 28th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 3rd	May 18th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Mar 25th	May 9th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 16th	Apr 30th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Feb 27th	Apr 13th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 2nd	Mar 19th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	45
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Black Seeded Simpson’s romaine-leaning head gives you buttery tenderness without losing that decisive crunch—ideal when you want lettuce to stay crisp, not go limp. Keep it lightly dressed and serve promptly: its mild sweetness loves acidity and salty proteins more than heavy, creamy sauces.

Best Uses

spring salads that need a lettuce that won’t collapse under vinaigrette
sandwich layering where you want crunch without watering out the bread
quick tosses with warm bacon fat or browned butter for a just-wilted contrast
chopped lettuce bowls for tacos or rice bowls—acts like a fresh, crunchy base

Flavor Profile

tender buttery leaf cool, crisp snap mild sweetness with a clean finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette bacon or prosciutto hard-boiled egg feta or goat cheese parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prevent and treat lettuce downy mildew (and similar fungal issues) on Black Seeded Simpson?

Watch for yellow-green patches on leaf tops and a grayish-purple fuzzy growth on the undersides—especially after cool, humid, damp mornings. Remove and discard the worst leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants a bit more, and water at the base in the morning so foliage stays dry. If it keeps spreading, use a labeled fungicide that targets downy mildew on edible leafy greens and follow the label’s reapplication interval.

How often should I water Black Seeded Simpson during the main growing phase (after germination)?

Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy from transplanting/germination through leaf formation, typically watering about 1–2 times per week depending on heat and soil. Aim for topsoil that feels lightly moist 1 inch down—drying all the way out causes bitter, bolting-prone lettuce, while constant wetness invites fungal problems. In warm spells, you may need brief, more frequent waterings to maintain that “damp, not wet” condition.

How can I tell when Black Seeded Simpson is ready to harvest at about 45 days?

Harvest when the outer leaves are full-sized and reach your desired size (often around 4–6 inches) and before the center begins to elongate or bolt. You can do “cut-and-come-again” by snipping outer leaves for multiple harvests, or take the whole head/rosette when it’s evenly filled. If leaves taste increasingly bitter or you see a tall flower stalk starting, harvest immediately.