Organic Merveille de Quatre Saisons Lettuce Non-GMO Open-Pollinated Seeds

Known as the "Marvel of Four Seasons," this French butterhead lettuce is celebrated for its ability to thrive and be harvested year-round, making it a versatile choice for gardeners in various climates.

A pre-1885 French heirloom, Merveille de Quatre Saisons was featured in Vilmorin’s iconic 1885 book The Vegetable Garden and was introduced to America through the popular PBS series The Victory Garden.

Merveille de Quatre Saisons boasts a signature butterhead shape, forming a bibb-type rosette with an impressive range of colors, including bronze, gold, red, and green. Its dark, ruby-toned leaves form tightly folded, crisp hearts, and its color intensifies in cooler spring or autumn weather. The texture remains consistently crisp, while its flavor is both mild and unforgettable.

This vigorous, easy-to-grow lettuce matures in approximately 40–60 days, making it a reliable and attractive addition to your garden throughout the year.

Seed Profile

• Organic

• Heirloom

• Open-Pollinated

• Non-GMO

• Annual

• Exposure: Full- Partial Sun

• Indoor: 3-6 weeks before last frost

• Direct Sow: When soil is workable 

• Seed Count: 600

• Days to Maturity: 40-70

• Plant Size: 4"-10"

Gardener Tips

Keep soil moist while seeds are germinating. Will grow into the space that is provided, give space if possible. For a continuous harvest, make successive plantings every 10-14 days. Best grown in cooler weather.

If starting seeds indoors, it is key that your new starts be hardened off.  This is a process that requires taking them outside during the day, for a period of time, before they are planted. This acclimates your seedlings to the outside world, meaning the elements like the wind and sun. We do it for several weeks to a month as this strengthens their stems and overall plant structure. 

• Start for a short period of time initially, then graduate to more time each day
• One week minimum is recommended
• Bring them inside in the early evening and overnight
• Keep an eye on them and constantly water them. Make sure they have not blown over. 

Mulch at the base of plant.

Read our blog post on The Power of Mulching

Each packet of seeds contains a generous amount of seeds, so you can plant in succession!  

Read our blog post on How to Always Have Greens Coming out of the Garden!

Harvest Tips

Harvesting lettuce in the early morning or evening is ideal.   The plant is cool and hydrated. Midday heat causes the leaves to wilt, lose moisture, and turn bitter, which can affect both taste and texture. By harvesting during the cooler parts of the day, you preserve the lettuce’s crispness, flavor, and shelf life.