How to Grow Deer Tongue
Lactuca sativa
Deer Tongue lettuce offers a tender, sweet flavor that thrives in cool weather. Gardeners prize this variety for its exceptional heat tolerance and bolt resistance, making it an easy choice for extended harvests from early spring through late fall.
📷 Wikipedia: LettuceStarting Deer Tongue: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 3 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
If starting indoors, harden off seedlings gradually before transplanting them outdoors once they are two to six weeks past the last frost date.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 to encourage strong roots. As a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors or start indoors two to six weeks before your last expected frost date. Press seeds gently into the soil surface without covering them deeply, as they need light to germinate effectively within seven to twelve days.
Space plants ten to twelve inches apart to ensure proper air circulation and head formation. While Deer Tongue is drought tolerant once established, provide one to one-and-a-half inches of water weekly during active growth. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but avoid piling it against the stems.
Monitor for slugs and aphids, though this variety is naturally resistant to most pests. Downy mildew and bacterial leaf spot are rare issues; ensure good airflow to prevent fungal growth. Harvest outer leaves when the plant reaches maturity in forty-five to fifty-five days after sowing, allowing for a continuous supply of fresh greens.
When to Plant Deer Tongue
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Deer Tongue
✓ Good companions
Loosens soil with deep roots, doesn't compete for surface nutrients
Repels aphids and other soft-bodied insects that damage lettuce leaves
Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps that control pests
Natural fungicide properties help prevent downy mildew and other lettuce diseases
Repels nematodes and aphids while attracting predatory insects
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, attracts beneficial insects
Quick-growing roots break up compacted soil and deter root maggots
Similar growing requirements, provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
✗ Keep away from
Heavy nitrogen feeder that competes directly with lettuce for nutrients
Releases allelopathic compounds that stunt growth of most vegetables including lettuce
Allelopathic compounds inhibit lettuce germination and growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
