Lettuce (Buttercrunch)

📖 About This Plant

Lettuce (Buttercrunch) is an award-winning butterhead variety developed at Cornell University in the 1960s that remains beloved by home gardeners for its uniquely soft, pliable leaves with a buttery texture that practically melts in the mouth. Unlike crunchier romaine types, Buttercrunch forms a loose, open head of deep-green outer leaves surrounding a blanched, pale-yellow inner heart that is the most tender, mildest part of the plant. It earned its All-America Selections award for standing up to heat far better than most butterhead lettuces, resisting bolting several weeks longer when summer temperatures climb. Each head averages about 6 inches across and makes a complete salad on its own — there is minimal waste compared to iceberg or crisphead types.

📊 Quick Facts

📅 When to Plant in Your Area

🌱 Care Tips

Sow Buttercrunch seeds directly outdoors 4–6 weeks before your last frost date, or start indoors 3–4 weeks early for transplanting. Buttercrunch germinates best in cool soil (45–65°F); in summer, chill the seeds for 24 hours in the refrigerator before sowing to improve germination rates. Thin or transplant to 8–10 inches apart — crowded plants bolt faster and form poor heads. Buttercrunch needs consistent moisture to develop its characteristic tender texture; dry spells cause tipburn on the inner leaves and accelerate bolting. Feed lightly with a balanced fertilizer or diluted compost tea every 2–3 weeks. In hot climates, plant in a location that receives afternoon shade in the summer, or grow under 30% shade cloth — this alone can extend the season by 3–4 weeks. For a continuous harvest, sow a new batch every 2–3 weeks. Harvest by cutting the head an inch above the soil — the stub will often sprout 2–3 additional leaves before finally bolting.

🤝 Companion Plants

These plants grow well alongside Lettuce:

🌿 Related Vegetable

More vegetable that grow in similar conditions:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions