How to Plant and Grow ‘Oscarde’ Oak Leaf Lettuce

Lactuca sativa ‘Oscarde’

I don’t grow lettuce for its appearance, but it’s hard not to marvel at the beautiful ‘Oscarde.’

Tell me the dark cherry red outer leaves and red and brown dappled inner leaves aren’t stunning!

The dense, tender heart is bright green and when you slice into a head you’ll be enjoying a feast for the eyes.

But looks aren’t everything, ‘Oscarde’ also shines in the taste department too. It has a refreshing crispness with a mild, nutty sweetness.

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Though it’s an oak leaf type, this cultivar has a density and texture that reminds me a bit of a butterhead. Best of both worlds, in my opinion.

‘Oscarde’ is a cold weather type that doesn’t do well in the summer, but shines as a winter or early spring option.

Grow some summer crisp during the hot months and then turn to this marvel during the colder months. Even a hard, extended freeze won’t cause a problem.

If you’re ready to add ‘Oscarde’ to your garden, keep reading. Here’s what I’ll cover:

Oak leaf lettuces originated in France, where they were cultivated by local growers from wild plants.

In 1699, gardener John Evelyn wrote about oak leaf lettuces in his book “Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets.”

In the section about lettuces, he briefly mentions that oak leaf is a dwarf French type.

In 1771, the first commercial oak leaf type was released by seed company Vilmorin (now Vilmorin-Mikado) as ‘Feuille de Chene.’ “Feuille” is French for leaf and “chene” translates as oak.

It’s easy to see where this type got its name. The leaves do, in fact, look like those from an oak tree in shape.

‘Oscarde’ was also bred in France, as were many other popular cultivars, though it’s not clear by exactly who or when.

How to Sow

Sowing seeds is the most common way to go about propagating ‘Oscarde,’ but you might get lucky and find a nursery that is selling seedlings if you wanted to get a headstart on the growing season.

From Seed

I like to start my seeds indoors because I can better monitor the moisture level in the soil and I don’t have to worry about birds or squirrels making off with the seeds.

Here’s how:

1. Fill a seed tray with a moist, water retentive potting medium. 
2. Press the seeds into the soil or cover them with an eighth inch of medium. Seeds should be an inch or two apart.
3. Set the tray in an area that receives direct light for about six hours a day or under supplemental lighting.
4. Keep the soil moist at all times. The seeds should germinate about a week after planting.

When the seedlings are a few inches tall and have several true leaves, you can transplant them outside into the garden or individual containers.

Before taking them outside, harden them off for about a week.

You’ll need to protect the planting area with floating row covers or some mesh to prevent the birds from making off with the seeds.

Transplanting

Whether you find seedlings at the store or you start your own, when it comes time to put them in the ground, start by prepping the soil.

Dig down about six inches and work in a bunch of well-rotted compost. Then, dig a small hole for each plant, with a foot between them.

Gently remove the seedling from its growing container and set it in the hole that you dug. Don’t bury it any deeper than it was in the growing container.

Firm the soil up around the base and water in well.

How to Grow

Lettuce lends itself nicely to growing in containers, and I particularly love oak leaf types for pots.

I keep a container of oak leaf and arugula on my patio for snagging leaves as I’m cooking.

So long as you have a container with good drainage, some water-retentive potting soil, and a spot to put it in, you can grow ‘Oscarde.’

If you lack space, the weather isn’t right, or you just want the convenience of a close food option, you can also grow your lettuce indoors.

Light

‘Oscarde’ should be planted in full sun. A little afternoon shade during the hottest part of the day won’t go amiss, but too much shade will stunt the plant and result in leggy growth.

Soil

Like all lettuce, this cultivar needs loose, organically-rich, moisture-retentive soil that’s also well-draining. It should have a slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5.

Water

Keep the soil moist at all times. It should feel like a well-wrung-out sponge and if it starts to dry out, provide more water right away. If it feels soggier, though, don’t water.

These plants have shallow roots, so it’s a delicate balance.

When the surface of the soil starts to dry out, there’s a risk the roots will dry out, which means stress for the plant and potential bolting or bitterness.

Fertilizing

Those shallow roots also can’t dig down deep for nutrients, so you’ll want to provide them with an organic fish emulsion fertilizer every two weeks.

This isn’t strictly necessary if you have rich soil and you amended with plenty of compost at planting time.

It’s always best to do a soil test to see if your soil is depleted and amend accordingly.

Assuming your soil needs feeding, use something like Neptune’s Harvest fish fertilizer to keep your lettuce growing big and strong.

Neptune’s Harvest Fish Fertilizer

Arbico Organics carries this product, which has an NPK ratio of 2-4-1, in a variety of sizes.

While ‘Oscarde’ doesn’t enjoy the popularity of some other lettuces, it’s not exactly rare, either.

I find packets every spring at my favorite plant nurseries. You can also order them online and have them conveniently delivered to your house.

‘Oscarde’

True Leaf Market carries this cultivar and lots of excellent seeds that you can’t always find locally and I’ve always enjoyed a high germination rate with their seeds, which isn’t something I can say about all rare seed sellers.

Pests and Disease

The rapid pace at which lettuce grows and matures can be both a blessing and a curse.

There’s less time for problems to develop or for pests to find your plants, but if infection or infestation happens, they can cause rapid damage.

Herbivores

Deer, rabbits, mice, and voles will mow through a lettuce patch faster than you can say “salad bar.”

For deer and rabbits, fencing will be your best friend. If you are constantly dealing with mice and voles, a tall container is going to be the way to go.

I find that fighting mice and voles in the ground is a losing battle.

Insects

Aphids, various caterpillars, and slugs and snails are the most common in my garden, and I deal with one or another every year.

I use a bread slurry trap to deal with the slugs and snails, and you can use floating row covers to prevent aphids and caterpillars.

Then we have fungus gnats and several different species of beetles.

Our guide to common lettuce pests has more information.

It can be beneficial to grow marigolds or alliums around your ‘Oscarde’ as these help to deter pests. Avoid growing brassicas nearby as they share many of the same pests and diseases with Lactuca species.

Disease

‘Oscarde’ is resistant to downy mildew, so you can pretty much check that devastating disease off your list of things to worry about.

But damping off, bottom and soft rot, and bacterial leaf spot are problems you may run into.

So, what do you do about any of these issues? Read our guide to lettuce diseases to learn more about identifying the problem and dealing with it.

Harvesting

‘Oscarde’ makes an excellent cut-and-come-again type because the leaves regrow quickly as you remove them.

The baby leaves are ready in just 30 days while the mature heads need about 55 days to reach their full size.

Learn more about harvesting leaf lettuce here.

Pretty, Flavorful, and Super Hardy

Being good looking isn’t a requirement for lettuce, but it sure doesn’t hurt, right? Luckily, ‘Oscarde’ is as beautiful as it is delicious.

Plus, it’s disease-resistant and able to survive a freeze.

We all know that lettuce is an essential ingredient in salads, but how else do you plan to use up your harvest? I’d love to hear your ideas. Share them with us in the comments section below!

And for more information about growing lettuce, check out these guides next:

• How to Plant and Grow Parris Island Cos Lettuce
• 29 of the Best Lettuce Varieties for Your Garden
• 3 Common Causes of White Spots on Lettuce