Lettuce, Bunyards Matchless (Organic)
Lactuca sativa. Bronze Romaine. 30 days baby; 60 full.
Large, open heads are dark green with some bronze tint. Similar to George Richardson, Brown Goldring, and other Bath Cos types. Crunchy with distinctive nutty, sweet delicious flavor. This English heirloom is both cold and heat tolerant. Scored higher overall than most other lettuces for both agronomic and eating qualities in the Heritage Seed Library’s 2008 Leafy Vegetable Project evaluation. Given to The Seed Ambassadors Project by the Heritage Seed Library in England. Aka, Bunyard’s Matchless.
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Sow indoors in flats with good potting soil year-round. Transplant into the garden 3-4 weeks after sprouting at 3″ spacing for leaf, 12″ for heads. Alternatively, direct sow March through September. In our area, lettuce can go through winter if protected. Succession sow for continual harvest.
Seed Saving
Collect seeds when flowers are downy like dandelions. Cut seed heads and place upside down in a paper bag to dry for a few days. Knock seed heads against side of bucket or tote, rub downy fluff off seeds. Winnow and screen to clean.
Scott (verified owner) –
Where did you grow this variety? Midwestern US
I’m located in the upper mid west, zone 4b, about 45 degrees latitude.
This is my second season growing Bunyards Matchless with similar good results. Last year I started seeds indoors and transplanted to the garden in early spring. This year I direct sowed in my garden March 11th, just scattering seeds around my elephant garlic which was just sprouting at the time. I also started some seeds in a trays which I transplanted mid June for a crop later this season (shown in the attached picture). This year has been cooler and wetter than normal; last year was hotter, and we had a bit of a drought in May. But I got good yields and healthy plants in both years. Was very slow to bolt last year in the heat, and no sign of bolting so far this year.
I usually use it in daily lunch salad but it’s also good on sandwiches. It stores well in the refrigerator (several days to a week+), which is handy, if like me, you have a lot of other things from the garden and can’t use the whole head in one meal.
I bought these seeds in the winter of 2022, so they’re 2-3 years old. Had good germination both years and will plant again next year.
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