All the Dirt on Gardening

Open pollinated Forellenschluss romaine lettuce has been called the Jackson Pollack of lettuces. Fedco Seeds says this Austrian heirloom is also called Freckled or Trout Black. "An absolutely gorgeous romaine with the delicate taste and texture of a butterhead, distinguished for its deep green leaves flecked with wine-red splotches." and "The best-tasting lettuce I've grown - can give a large heavy head as sweet as can be," praises Michael Goldman. Also the best-tasting of the 50 lettuces in our 1998 trial. Very buttery tender leaves may be harvested at 4 to 6 inches for mesclun or allowed to grow full size for maximum ornamental benefit. William Woys Weaver traced Forellenschluss back to 1793 when it was a dwarf variety of Spotted Aleppo developed in Germany. More upright and cup-shaped than Speckled Amish, with larger and darker splotches and better heat tolerance. Forellenschlus romaine lettuce according to Horticulture Magazines' 2007 article - Histor...