Butterhead Lettuce

Butterheads form soft, loosely wrapped heads with tender leaves. Boston and Bibb are familiar market types within this group.

Sun

Full sun to part shade

Water

Keep consistently moist

Spacing

10 in

First harvest

50–70 days

Tips

• Allow 8–12 inches according to head size.
• Water gently to avoid bruising leaves.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen.
• Harvest promptly and chill soon after picking.
• Sow seeds about 1/8 inch deep in cool weather and thin leaf types to 6-8 inches or heading types to 10-12 inches.
• Keep the shallow root zone evenly moist with gentle watering rather than allowing it to dry out.
• Apply a light nitrogen side-dressing if growth is pale or slow and soil fertility is low.
• Check beneath leaves for slugs and remove them or use an iron-phosphate bait labeled for vegetables.
• Harvest outer leaves above the crown, or cut heads before a tall flower stalk develops.

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