Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa)

Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) seeds, AKA (Wild Lettuce, Bitter Lettuce) Lactuca virosa is a preferred wild species from Europe–highest latex content, nutrient-dense, good winter salad, bright purple-black seeds, much less spiny than the weedy types Young leaves - raw or cooked. The young tender leaves are mild and make an excellent salad, but the whole plant becomes bitter as it gets older, especially when coming into flower. As a potherb, it needs very little cooking. Large quantities can cause digestive upsets. Young shoots - cooked. Used as an asparagus substitute.

Hardy to Zones 5 to 9
Grown as a spring-planted annual
Overwintering annual or biennial.

Source of lactucarium, the white latex that contains alkaloids (Lactulin) and sesquiterpene lactones. Scatter seeds on moist soil and press them lightly into the soil. Just barely cover the seed, as Lactuca needs sunlight to germinate. Germination takes five days to two weeks. Sow in spring or fall, in pots, or directly in beds outdoors. Barely cover the seed with soil and tamp securely, then keep evenly moist until germination, which takes 10 to 20 days. Hot soil temperatures retard or disallow germination. Transplant or thin to 6 inches apart. Flowers yellow to 6 feet. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) is grown medicinally for the milky white sap that oozes from the plant when cut or broken.