Simpson Elite
Simpson Elite: 45-55 days to harvest, 7-10 days to germinate, 6-8 inches between plants, pH 6.0-7.0, hardy in zones 2-11. Fruit runs to about Individual leaves 4-6 inches, full plant 8-10 inches wide. Give it full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours) and 1-1.5 inches per week, consistent moisture water. It will crop in a container. Because this is a hybrid, seed saved from it will not repeat the parent — plan on fresh seed each year.
Sowing
Direct sow from early spring through late summer. Sow every 2 weeks for continuous harvest. Light covering of soil as seeds need some light to germinate.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
- Water
- 1-1.5 inches per week, consistent moisture
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile soil with good organic content
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 6-8 inches
- Height
- 6-12 inches
- Season
- Cool season with heat tolerance
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Bright light green with yellow-green highlights
- Size
- Individual leaves 4-6 inches, full plant 8-10 inches wide
- Shape
- Loose leaf with deeply frilled, ruffled edges
- Flavour
- Mild, sweet, crisp with no bitterness even in warm weather
In the kitchen
Salad base, sandwiches, wraps, garnishes. Excellent for mesclun mixes and baby leaf production.
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Aphids, slugs, snails, flea beetles, leaf miners
- Diseases
- Downy mildew, bottom rot, lettuce mosaic virus
- Resistance
- Excellent heat tolerance and bolt resistance. Good downy mildew resistance.
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | June – July | July – September |
| 2 | — | — | May – July | July – September |
| 3 | — | — | May – June | June – October |
| 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| 6 | — | — | April – May | May – November |
| 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| 8 | — | — | March – April | April – December |
| 9 | — | — | February – March | March – December |
| 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
| 11 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 12 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 13 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Protein (g)
- 0.742
- Fat (g)
- 0.0738
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 3.37
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 20.5
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.0401
- Calcium (mg)
- 14.2
- Iron (mg)
- 0.0332
- Magnesium (mg)
- 6.31
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 19.2
- Potassium (mg)
- 139
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.173
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Simpson Elite?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other lettuce with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Simpson Elite suits these too.
- Mei Qing Choi 45 days
- Shikibu 45 days
- Red Sails 45 days
- Red Velvet 45 days
- Deer Tongue 45 days
- Black Summer 45 days