Grandpa Admire’s Heirloom Lettuce

I’m trying to focus on all the good that surrounds me, the things that I might overlook if I didn’t allow myself the time to stop and really consider how amazing these little things are.  This morning, it was the tiny lettuces that are growing in our cellar to be transplanted into the garden once the weather is warm enough.

These little leaves are an heirloom variety called Grandpa Admire’s Lettuce.  Legend has it that a family named this variety that had been preserved by their Grandpa George Admire who was a Civil War veteran. He was born in 1822 and we’re still enjoying the lettuce that bears his name nearly 200 years later.

George liked this lettuce enough to collect the seeds for planting in successive years.  His family continued the tradition. They collected and saved the seeds every year, planting it in their garden as a tribute to his memory. In the late 1970s, his granddaughter gave seeds to Seed Savers Exchange.

I have been planting this lettuce in our garden for several years now. This lettuce is a butterhead type of lettuce with somewhat loose leaves with beautiful rust-colored edges. The leaves are soft and tender with a wrinkled appearance and texture.  These lettuces have always grown well in our garden. They seem slow to bolt and very tolerant of summer’s hot temperatures.

If you’re still planning your summer garden and looking for a variety of lettuce that has a fascinating story, beautiful color, and delicious flavor, I hope that you’ll give this one a try.