Spotted Aleppo

This speckled heirloom romaine (cos) lettuce from Aleppo, Syria was introduced to England in the late 1600s, and to America by the late 1700s. It was offered by Philadelphia-based Bernard McMahon in the first known seed catalog in America in 1804 (his very first catalog came out 2 years earlier). Philadelphia seedsman Peter Crowells advertised it for sale to U.S. gardeners in 1786. It is believed Thomas Jefferson grew "Spotted Aleppo" at Monticello. Some say romaine lettuces are also called "cos" because lettuce is known as khus خس in Arabic. This long-leafed variety is 8-10 inches tall and can be eaten young or mature. Black-seeded. 40-60 days to maturity. Larger quantities available.