Plant Database / Butterhead lettuce plant care

Butterhead lettuce

Lactuca sativa var. capitata

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Butterhead lettuce is a member of the Lactuca (Lettuce) family. Its botanical name is Lactuca sativa var. capitata. The scientific name epithet sativa means 'having been cultivated'.

Butter lettuce is a loose-leaf head with a crisp, tender texture and mild, sweet flavor. Contains vitamins A and K.

Butterhead lettuce grows as an annual and is an edible vegetable. Being an annual plant, it tends to grow best over the course of a single year. Butterhead lettuce normally grows to a stemless habit with a max height of 7.8 inches (that's 20.0 cm metric). This plant tends to mature and be ready for harvest in early spring.

This plant info is provided by the myfolia gardener's wiki. All details about Butterhead lettuce have been kindly provided by our members.

How to grow Butterhead lettuce

Partial Sun
+
High

Plant in a location that enjoys partial sun and remember to water often. Use Zone 4 - Zone 9 as your guideline for the appropriate climate for this plant. Butterhead lettuce needs a soil ph of 6.2 to 6.8 (weakly acidic soil). Butterhead lettuce is generally regarded as a tender plant, so remember to wait until your soil is warm and the night time temperature is well above freezing before moving outside.

Growing Butterhead lettuce from seed

Sow 0.49 inches (1.25 cm) deep with a guideline distance of 5.85 inches (15.0 cm). For optimal germination, soil temperature should be a minimum of 5°C / 41°F.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Butterhead lettuce about 60 days before your last frost date .

Transplanting Butterhead lettuce

Seed Saving Butterhead lettuce

Save seeds from the plants that are slowest to bolt. When the flowers have changed to seed heads remove seeds and dry indoors. Head lettuce may require cross-cutting. ¹

Companion plants for Butterhead lettuce

These plants have been known to grow well alongside Butterhead lettuce so consider planting:

Repellent plants for Butterhead lettuce

These plants will not grow well with Butterhead lettuce so avoid planting these within close proximity:

Common Butterhead lettuce problems

These problems, diseases and pests are known to affect Butterhead lettuce plants:

Snails
Slugs

Other names for Butterhead lettuce

Butter leaf lettuce, Butter lettuce, Buttery lettuce, , Butterhead

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Butterhead lettuce care instructions

Category The lifecycle that this Butterhead lettuce exhibits. Annual Difficulty How easy is Butterhead lettuce to grow? Help build our wiki!
Lifecycle The lifecycle that this Butterhead lettuce exhibits. Annual Growth Habit What shape or habit does Butterhead lettuce grow into? Stemless
Hardiness How frost hardy is Butterhead lettuce? Tender Country of Origin Where did Butterhead lettuce come from? Help build our wiki!
Mature Height How tall does Butterhead lettuce grow? 20.0 cm / 7.8 inches Mature Spread How wide does Butterhead lettuce grow? 20.0 cm / 7.8 inches
USDA Zone Range Which zones does Butterhead lettuce grow best in? Zone 4 to Zone 9 pH Range The level of acidity for Butterhead lettuce. 6.2 - 6.8
Water Requirements How much water does Butterhead lettuce require? High Nitrogen Requirements How much nitrogen fertilizer does Butterhead lettuce need? Medium
Soil What sort of soil should I plant Butterhead lettuce in? Help build our wiki! Sun How much sunlight does Butterhead lettuce need to grow? Partial Sun
Can Sow Direct? Can Butterhead lettuce be sown directly? No Sowing Depth How deep to plant Butterhead lettuce? 1.25 cm / 0.49 inches
Sowing Distance Apart How far apart to plant Butterhead lettuce? 15.0 cm / 5.85 inches Sowing Row Distance Apart How far apart to plant rows of Butterhead lettuce? Help build our wiki!
Ideal Germination Temperature Range What temperatures does Butterhead lettuce need in order to germinate? 5°C / 41°F to 27°C / 81°F Growing Temperatures What temperatures are best to grow Butterhead lettuce in? Help build our wiki! to Help build our wiki!
Planting Distance Apart How far apart to plant Butterhead lettuce seedlings. Help build our wiki! Planting Row Distance Apart How far apart to plant rows of Butterhead lettuce seedlings. Help build our wiki!
Bloom Time When will Butterhead lettuce bloom? Help build our wiki! Harvest Time When is Butterhead lettuce ready for harvest? Early Spring
Pruning Time When should I prune Butterhead lettuce? Early Spring

How long does Butterhead lettuce take to grow?

These estimates for how long Butterhead lettuce takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world. Start logging and journaling your observations to participate!

Days to Germination How long does it take Butterhead lettuce to germinate? 6 days Average 6 days | Min 1 days | Max 19 days (182)
Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Butterhead lettuce? + 29 days Average 29 days | Min 6 days | Max 99 days (21)
Days to Maturity How long until Butterhead lettuce is ready for harvest / bloom? + 29 days Average 29 days | Min 23 days | Max 63 days (10)
Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Butterhead lettuce? = 64 days

When should I plant Butterhead lettuce?

Our when to plant Butterhead lettuce estimates are relative to your last frost date. Enter your frost dates and we'll calculate your sowing and planting dates for you!

Footnotes

¹ :The New Seed-starters Handbook; Published 1988

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