Photo by Dwight Sipler (CC BY 2.0).

Scientific Name: Lactuca sativa

Common Names: Lettuce 'Buttercrunch', Butterhead Lettuce, Bibb Lettuce, Boston Lettuce

Family: Asteraceae

Origin:

This open-pollinated heirloom lettuce cultivar originates from Kentucky USA and was first grown between 1865 and 1870.

Culinary Uses:

Great for adding bulk to salads, contributes a delicious slightly nutty flavour and buttery texture.  Best eaten when fresh, straight from the garden to plate ideally.

Growing Tips:  

Can be grown in either full sun or light shade, sow in a sunny position to encourage denser leaf formation.  Buttercrunch lettuce tolerates heat better than most varieties and has some resistance to bolting, although it will still suffer badly if grown during hot, humid summers.  Water regularly and ensure soil is well fertilsed prior to sowing by incorporating a nitrogen-rich organic fertiliser.  Apply an organic liquid fertiliser regularly throughout the growing season to encourage quick growth.  Avoid watering leaves directly to prevent leaf rot, instead try keep the watering on the soil around each plant.  Sow a few seed in weekly intervals to ensure a continuous supply of lettuces. 

When To Sow:

Buttercrunch lettuce can be sown any time of the year in temperate areas of Australia.  In colder regions sow Buttercrunch lettuce from September to February.  In the subtropical regions of Australia sow from March to September for best results.

How To Sow:

Sow Buttercrunch lettuce seeds no deeper than 4mm deep compacting the soil down around the seeds lightly to prevent too much moisture from escaping.  Space Buttercrunch lettuce plants about 30cm apart.

Germination Time:

Buttercrunch lettuce seeds will begin to germinate between 6 and 14 days after sowing.

Time To Harvest:

Buttercrunch lettuce takes between 9 and 11 weeks to reach full size.  Alternatively individual leaves can be harvested from about 5 weeks of age, picking off the outer leaves first.