Tom Thumb x May King (May Queen)

[Ferdzy]

We had some seed that we supposed to be a cross of these 2 lettuces and grew them out this year. Tom Thumb is one of only 2 lettuces I've had which don't go bitter until well along in the bolting process, meaning if you see it start to bolt you can pick it and still have perfectly good lettuce. Many of the seedlings from this cross also have this quality; we pulled about half of them I guess, and have left about 2 dozen of the best to go to seed. There is a surprising amount of variability in size of plant, colour of leaf, how quickly they matured and how well they held. All of them, not surprisingly, are some variation of butterheads.

Really looking forward to growing these out again next year and seeing what we get.

[Steph S]

I have a single May Queen atm from seed that wasn't as long lived as I hoped, it is an amazing lettuce.  I had trouble with mold last year and am not quite sure what season suits them best.  Having trouble with all lettuce (and everything else) at the moment.
Anyway I love May Queen quality when it's happening, what a great lettuce.

[Ferdzy]

I picked up the seed in Hungary, and grew it out for a couple of years. I really liked it but stopped growing it because it always seemed to be the first to bolt.

Then the next year I realized it was the first to bolt because it was the first to grow. It really *is* MAY king (or queen, whatever) where other lettuces rule in June. Fortunately I had sent some seed to someone who spontaneously told me they had grown out a lot of it and asked if I wanted any seed back. Yes, please!

I now make sure I have lots of it. Probably won't grow it next year though... we'll be growing out all its grandkids.