How to Grow Buttercrunch or Butterhead Lettuce
Latuca Sativa
Some people call it Buttercrunch lettuce. Other folks, know it as Butterhead
lettuce. However you know it, this lettuce, is a crisp, and crunchy treat
in the salad bowl. These popular greens form thick, outer leaves giving way
to a sweet, creamy colored, compact head.
Like other lettuces, Buttercrunch lettuce is a cool weather crop.
Buttercrunch holds up better in hot weather than most other lettuces. Time
your spring crop to mature prior to the onset of hot and humid weather. We
recommend an indoor start in the spring for an early crop for your salad
bowl.
Days to Maturity:
Buttercrunch lettuce needs 55-60 days to reach maturity. Outer leaves can
be harvested as needed.
How to Grow Buttercrunch Lettuce:
Buttercrunch lettuce can be sowed directly into the garden, or started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors, spreading the small seeds as thinly as possible.
For indoor starts, sow a few seeds in each cell of a seed tray. Cover very
lightly with a fine starter soil. Keep soil moist during the germination
period. Fast sprouting seedlings should emerge in about 5-10 days.
Tip: When beginning transplants, stagger the start of your seedlings
to spread out the crop. For example, if you are going to grow 24 plants,
sow six in the seed tray today, sow six more 3-4 days later, etc.
Transplant into the garden after all danger of frost has past. Ideally,
transplant them on a cool or cloudy day. Water well after transplanting.
Space plants 8"-10" apart, in rows 18" apart. The soil should be rich, fertile,
and well draining. Keep the soil moist. Frequent use of nitrogen-rich fertilizer
is recommended. The plants respond well to regular applications of liquid
fertilizer.
Transplanting Tip: When transplanting any type of lettuce in hot weather,
place some form of sun shade over the plant for a couple of days. Any makeshift
shade will do.
It's important to time the crop to mature prior to the onset of hot
dry weather. In these conditions, the plant is bolt...go to seed. It can
also split or rot.
For your fall crop, an indoor start is best. Lettuce seeds do not germinate
well in the hot soil of mid-summer.
Also See:
Plant
Problems - how to identify and correct them
Soil
Temperatures - germination temperature by vegetable
Ideal Soil pH -
by vegetable
Harvesting:
Days to harvest: 55
If you just can't wait for some fresh, home grown Buttercrunch lettuce, you
can begin to harvest the leaves as soon as they are big enough to use on
a sandwich or in a salad. As you thin the rows, use culled plants.
If this is your first time growing, it's sometimes hard to tell when the
heads are fully mature. When in doubt, harvest a head, eat, and enjoy!
Insects and Pests:
Bunnies like lettuce. Got bunnies!? Then, a rabbit fence is in your future.
Insects can become a real problem, too. A wide variety of insects like lettuce.
Lettuce is a delicate vegetable. It can absorb insecticides. If an infestation
occurs, we recommend insecticidal soaps and organic repellents. If you choose
chemical sprays, read the label carefully to make sure it is safe for lettuce.
Also, heed the amount of time you have to wait to harvest the crop after
spraying...it's all on the label of the spray you purchase.
Slugs are a real problem for all types of lettuces. There are a variety of
control methods. More on Slugs and
snails.
Disease:
Buttercrunch Lettuce can wilt and rot in hot, humid weather. Although
Buttercrunch withstands heat better than most lettuces, it still doesn't
do well in mid-summer's heat and humidity. The plant will also bolt or go
to seed stage in higher heat. Rotting can also occur in wet soils.
Hardiness:
Lettuce thrives in cooler weather. But, it is also susceptible to heavy frost.
It does not like mid-summer heat, or dry conditions. Set your first crop
outdoors after the last spring frost. Time your Fall crop to mature prior
to the first fall frost date for your area.
More Information:
Our Garden Recipe Collection
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