'Fusion' was a big winner in our North Dakota Home Garden Variety Trials. It has the wavy leaves of a leaf lettuce and the crisp texture of a romaine.

Romaine lettuce has become one of the most popular vegetables in our North Dakota Home Garden Variety Trials. It’s more popular than our leaf lettuce, butterhead lettuce and iceberg lettuce trials—combined. Gardeners in these trials have discovered romaine lettuce is easy to grow and delicious.

This summer, 34 families compared the new romaine variety ‘Fusion’ with ‘Green Forest’, a standout performer in ND for years.

‘Fusion’ is a cross between leaf and romaine lettuce. Gardeners discovered it had the best qualities of both: the wavy leaves of leaf lettuce and the crisp texture of romaine.

‘Fusion’ tolerated the summer heat and resisted going to seed. Some gardeners harvested all summer. They enjoyed its mild flavor and its ability to regrow after each harvest. They commented:

“I liked its glossy green color and ruffled edges. Milder and superior taste.” - Rolette County gardener

“Full, sturdy plants. Delicious, mild flavor. Heads were quite large and did go to seed until late. I was still picking in August and sharing with neighbors.” - Mountrail County gardener

Twenty-six of the 34 (76%) gardeners preferred ‘Fusion’ over ‘GreenForest’ and 32 (94%) gardeners recommended ‘Fusion’ forNorth Dakota. That’s a winner! Look for ‘Fusion’ in your 2017 catalogs.

Would you like to join our research team? Everyone is welcome! Go to www.ag.ndsu.edu/homegardenvarietytrials/ for more information and to receive information on our trials in 2017.

Written by Tom Kalb, Extension Horticulturist, North Dakota State University. Published in the NDSU Yard & Garden Report, November 22, 2016. The photo is courtesy of Johnny’s Selected Seeds, www.johnnyseeds.com, 1-877-564-6697.