The Merveille des 4 saisons head lettuce is a heritage variety cultivated in France since the late 19th century. Sometimes called "Besson with black seeds", it is recognized for its beauty, versatility and remarkable tolerance to climatic variations.

It produces beautiful, large lettuces with tightly packed hearts, composed of two-toned leaves whose apple-green base contrasts elegantly with coppery-red tips. This coloration often intensifies with cool nights, adding striking visual interest to the vegetable garden.

It owes its name to its ability to tolerate summer heat better than many other head lettuces. Even when temperatures rise, it retains a mild and pleasant flavor, without any pronounced bitterness. However, it is still best to harvest it as soon as the head is well formed to prevent it from bolting (going to seed).

In the garden, Merveille des 4 saisons proves reliable and adaptable. It thrives in cool, rich, well-drained soil and prefers a sunny to partially shaded location. A common practice is to sow several consecutive seeds a few days apart. This approach staggers the harvests and prevents having too many lettuces ready at once.