Lactuca sativa‘Buttercrunch’
Are you searching for a palate - pleasing lettuce ? banal of the old standby ‘ Iceberg ’ and varieties of cos lettuce ? Then ‘ Buttercrunch ’ might be just what you ’re reckon for .
Any sentence the word “ butter ” appears in the name of a veggie , you make love you ’re in for a kickshaw .
Buttercrunch belongs to a category of wampum have a go at it as “ butterheads , ” include other motley such as ‘ Boston ’ and ‘ Bibb , ’ which all have similar characteristics .
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Whereas ‘ Iceberg ’ has a abrupt crunch and heavyset leafage grain , ‘ Buttercrunch ’ has thinner leaves and a soft , more velvety grain that is stark to top sandwich , swan up in wraps , and even substitute for tortillas .
The flavor is mild than that of many of the other escaped - leaf varieties , do it a favourite choice when the crush and taste of leafy vegetable is desired without bring down gall .
Lettuce is notoriously easy to grow , and even in orbit with high overall temperature , engraft during coolheaded seasons or in partial shade can work problems commonly because of heat .
However , ‘ Buttercrunch ’ is more kind of heat energy than some types , making it a good summation to garden in warmer clime . When other varieties are acrid and beetle off , buttercrunch holds out .
Let ’s talk about what it takes to grow buttercrunch lettuce !
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Sow
How to Grow
Where to Buy
Pests and Disease
harvest
Butterhead lettuces , such as ‘ Boston ’ and ‘ Bibb , ’ differ from crisphead sort , such as ‘ Iceberg , ’ in that butterheads organize slack , soft heads that can be reap as individual leaves , rather than total heads , throughout the growing season .
Common name(s):Buttercrunch lettuce
Plant type : Annual vegetable
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):2 - 11
aboriginal to : Mediterranean
Bloom fourth dimension / season : Spring and fall , winter with cold protective cover
Exposure : Full Dominicus to part nicety
grime type : Organically rich , escaped , well draining
Soil pH:6.0 - 7.0 , more or less acidulous to neutral
Time to maturity:45 - 60 twenty-four hour period
Spacing : 10 - 18 inches
Planting depth:1/8 in ( seed )
Mature size:6 - 12 column inch wide x 9 - 14 inches high
Water Needs : Moderate
Taxonomy
Order : Asterales
folk : Asteraceae
Genus : Latuca
Species : Sativa
Cultivar:‘Buttercrunch ’
‘ Buttercrunch ’ lettuce is a butterhead variety that was developed by George Raleigh , a professor at Cornell University who specialized in vegetable crops .
While it ’s not considered an heirloom , it ’s an award win cultivar that has been a staple garden lettuce since the former 1960s .
Because of the soft , pantry texture , this variety has long been considered a standard plus to sandwich and wrap formula .
Heads of this kind , as with almost any escaped - leaf wampum , can be leave alone at the end of the raise season to bolt , or bloom , to bring out seed .
Collecting your own seed is a wise room to disperse plant most suited for your garden and paw - select those with the best characteristic .
One read/write head of lettuce can bring forth hundreds of source , and serve as parent to crops for multiple grow seasons .
Most gardener try their hand at growing pelf at some point , and many pick out to include it in their garden every year .
It ’s one of the most common additions to the garden and , in most case , jolly dewy-eyed and aboveboard to grow , with undecomposed results . In about two calendar month ’ time , you’re able to begin harvesting your first crop of ‘ Buttercrunch . ’
Plants can be direct sown , started indoors and transfer , or produce in containers . Lettuce is also highly successful when uprise in aquaponic or hydroponic systems .
Lettuce germ is minuscule and fine , resemble chaff . If you decide to pick up your own ejaculate from plants in your garden , you may be fooled into thinking that the dead blooms have not produced any because it ’s so operose to see !
An of import condition to make before planting ‘ Buttercrunch ’ is that matured heads will typically be six to eight inches all-inclusive , and sometimes larger . Allow adequate way for space .
From Seed
A flat of one - in cells is passable for shekels starts as they do not require much elbow room to take root .
When starting seeds indoors in flats or heap , you ’ll want to choose compost or a potting premix that is nutrient dense . A blending that let in aged manure works well to increase usable nutrient for healthy plant .
Similarly , repair the stain at the growing web site with compost or aged manure prior to planting is right when direct sowing ejaculate .
Avoid overwatering or allowing soil to become soggy as this can make rotting , especially with raw lucre . Keep a close-fitting eye out for fungus gnats orsigns of damping offas well , as both can bolt down delicate sprouts .
Lettuce is typically tolerant of cooler temperature , so contrive tostart semen indoorsa few weeks before the last freeze for your area .
Early spring or early dusk are ideal time for planting , but be sure to allow enough time for plants to mature before the first frost – about 60 days .
If you choose to start seed outdoors , wait until the threat of frost has passed and sow at once in prolific soil , preferably at a web site with partial nuance .
Be sure that the ground has thawed if you ’re gardening in an area where it freeze in winter .
Here ’s how to institute :
Seedlings should emerge in one to two weeks . They ’re initially small and weak , and exceedingly susceptible to sunscald , which can cause them to droop and drop dead in just a few hours .
It may be necessary to protect seedlings with wraith cloth , orrow coverssuch as tunnels , to foreclose them from being sun damaged . burrow can serve double duty by offering protective cover from beast and insect damage as well .
Most heads will attain maturity in as little as 50 to 60 day , so it ’s potential to implant several crop in succession throughout the grow season .
From Seedlings/Transplanting
cabbage seedlings are delicate and little , with a shallow root system .
When seedlings are about three to four week old , they can be moved outside in temperatures as low as 20 ° F , although it is generally best to avoid transplantation until temperature are above freezing .
Transplants should be harden off by trim back the amount of water they receive and bit by bit insert them to more collateral sun for one to two weeks before moving them alfresco permanently .
dirt at the planting site should be rich and fertile , andamending with compostor elderly manure ahead of time will avail seedlings get the best start potential .
Arranging seedling in more or less mounded rows , space about one foot apart , can render good drain and keep leaves from coming into contact with the ground , which can get them to decompose and make it easier for pestilence to infest them .
Dig fix as deep and wide as the planting cell , and place plants ten to twelve inches apart . set the seedlings in the holes , press down with your hands , and water to resolve .
As plants are harvest , newfangled plants can be transplanted to the same growing site render that disease or pest infestation have not been problems . Plan to plant a new craw every 60 days and start out seeds consequently .
‘ Buttercrunch ’ forms loose , diffused brain of leave that are slightly more tolerant of heat than some varieties .
That being said , it ’s still a leafage lolly . cool seasons and partial shade are better for ‘ Buttercrunch , ’ ashigh temperature boost boltingandbitter smack .
uniform watering is of import , although it ’s not a good estimate to swamp the grease aslettuce can rotif preserve too wet . About one to two inches per calendar week is recommended during the time of year .
If you are n’t sure how much your garden is getting from precipitation , try using a pelting gauge .
If the soil dries out too often , ‘ Buttercrunch ’ and other type of scratch can become stressed , leave behind them receptive to scathe from disease and pests .
Drip irrigationcan be an good solution to furnish wet without souse , and it can also keep the spread of some types of disease .
To keep soil systematically moist , a light-headed layer of mulch can be lend , however , quash allow soil or mulch to come into tangency with the lower leaves , as this can also cause rotting .
Leaves that show signs of rot , such as brown or chicken splotch , or a bathetic , wilted texture , can be absent and discard before they bear upon other adjacent parts of the head .
Fertilizer is n’t really necessary if the dirt your lettuce is planted in is healthy and deep in organic material .
If you want to give an added encouragement , fertiliser such as Pisces photographic emulsion , or others that are low in nitrogen , can be beneficial .
utilisation fertilizers sparingly as lettuce has a small and touchy root word organisation that can be damage easy by over - applications programme .
In times of high heat , such as the summer months , pay measured tending to your flora . sign of sunscald admit droop , and burn that appear bleach out and brittle .
Protect ‘ Buttercrunch ’ works from heat energy and sun exposure by covering them with shade fabric , row covers , or polytunnels , or plant near other taller industrial plant such astomatoesorpeppersthat can provide some shade .
Row covers or polytunnels not only diffuse light , they can also protect from foraging brute and infestation , as well as fromlow temperature and Robert Lee Frost .
dinero seedlings are more tolerant of cold and freezing than more fledged plant , so it ’s also important to protect pass from extreme coldness .
inhuman build are structure that are build to create shut in growing environments , protecting plant inside from exposure to cold temperatures while still allowing full sunshine pic and the benefit of develop in - ground .
Acold systema skeletale traps heatfrom the Lord’s Day and the warm , moist aura that transpire from the primer coat , as well as from plants and rot textile , offering a warm position to grow when it ’s cold outside .
They can be used to extend the growing season through wintertime in areas where scurvy temperatures are not utmost , and may be planted withsuitable familiar plantsas well .
A cold form can be built but by using four one - by - four - inch board positioned in a square or rectangular approach pattern , fastened together at the corners with screws and wall bracket .
Be sure to take in with child snowfall that may accumulate on top of the cold frames to deflect spelunk in or hurt from the weight . Frames with strong construction can last through many years of repeated use .
Portable Wooden Cold Frame
If you opt a more artistic approach or your science at this eccentric of handiwork leaves something to be desire , this wooden option that isavailable for purchase from Amazon .
Container Growing
‘ Buttercrunch ’ lettuce is an excellent choice for container growing . In a comparatively small place , over the course of a few months , you could produce more than one crop with the added benefit of mobility .
plant in containers can be moved indoors or to a assure surroundings , and protect from infestation , foraging creature , and damaging weather conditions .
incur more tips on growing kale in containers here .
There are two reasons that ‘ Buttercrunch ’ lettuce could be grown in a tray .
embark on a stratum of seeds in a shallow tray will leave in a dense carpet of sprouts , which can then be harvest and used asmicrogreens .
These are delicious and tender , and can be used in recipes just as you would mature lettuce .
Self - Watering Grow Trays
Self - watering grow tray can be used to produce a modest measure of plants , such as these which areavailable from True Leaf Market .
Or choose a larger tray to produce a capital measure , such asthis one , also available from True Leaf Market .
Microgreens contain a lot of nutrients and water , and the savor of vernal ‘ Buttercrunch ’ sprouts is sweet and mild , which can add an interesting boost to a variety of recipe . See the formula section below for some melodic theme .
Planting ‘ Buttercrunch ’ seeds in a tray can also producehomegrown fodder for chickens .
Lettuce seed can be mixed with other type of semen , such asbeets , cabbage , andkale , to make a kind of “ fresh fish salad , ” which can be acquire and then reap and placed in your chicken enclosure at feeding time .
True Leaf Market has a marvelous selectionof seed that is tried and true for bring out microgreens .
Fresh fodder is extremely nutritious and can be course to chickens and other small livestock to improve their diet , replace dry caryopsis , and supplement provender in the winter month .
If planted in succession , microgreens or fodder can be produced yr round by place traysunder produce lightsindoors . Sturdy trays can be reused indefinitely .
When planting in tray , supervise sprouts to be sure that mold is not growing between the closely - grow plants .
Emsiok Hemp arise Mats
Because ‘ Buttercrunch ’ seeds are small and thin , it works best to use a layer of soilless planting medium , such as these hemp mat from Emsiok , usable via Amazon , at the bottom of the tray .
Aquaponic and hydroponic systems use water as the planting metier for a wide variety of plants , includingstrawberries , lettuce , and many more .
‘ Buttercrunch ’ is a perfect improver to either system , as the shallow beginning and short period of fourth dimension to maturity workplace well for this method of grow .
Systems such as these that use water as the growing medium are arrange up in a turn of ways , such as with water tanks , charge card tubes , or sometimes uniquely reconstruct structures , all let plant roots to fare into physical contact with water .
The deviation between aquaponics and hydroponics systems is that aquiculture use only pee with liquid nutrients lend for growing , while in aquaponics , container of water house fish , which bring home the bacon nutrient from waste dissolved in the water .
‘ Buttercrunch ’ heads develop commercially in these systems are often sold in grocery storage .
‘ Buttercrunch ’ lends itself well to container growing because of its small , shallow root system and comparatively dewy-eyed need .
A window loge or small-scale plantation owner is perfectly adequate for grow a few heads at a time , and can be reused as often as you like .
Add compost or fish photographic emulsion to increase available nutrients during the growing season , and exchange the dirt every two to three yr to keep it new and sizable .
Any time you ’ve had a bout of disease or plague in a container , empty the contents , disinfect the container by soaking in a result of one part bleach to nine parts H2O , or substitute acetum for bleach in a ratio of one part vinegar to three share water , and entrust the container submerged overnight .
slay the container from the answer , rinse well , and allow for it to dry completely before proceed to utilize it for implant again . Be certain to check in crevices and under rims for any remaining pests , testicle , or balance .
Be sure that the chosen container drains well , and keep the soil moist but not tight .
‘ Buttercrunch ’ maturate in containers will still need tolerable sunshine , so be certain that plant are getting at least six to eight hours of ignitor per day .
Full sunlight is preferred , although plants should be protected if temperatures are high , such as in the beat heat of summer .
Grow Towers
Plant towers , such as this one that’savailable from Amazon , can be another interesting mode to bring forth a crop of bracing ‘ Buttercrunch ’ head , even in a little infinite .
Vertical Garden Planter
This is achieved by arrange row of plants vertically , rather than planting horizontally , and is also known as develop “ up , not out . ”
By planting vertically , you’re able to potentially grow dozens of plants in a season using a four- to six - foot - magniloquent growing tug , which takes up just a few square feet of horizontal space .
Towers can be positioned on a pack of cards , porch , or even indoors in some instances . Some column are lightweight enough to be portable , move indoors well during heatwaves or inhuman snapshot , and extending the growing season .
rise towers can sometimes be used in conjunction with an aquaponics system , or planted with soil as the growing medium .
you may typically discover semen or nursery start available at your local garden midpoint or plant glasshouse , and online as well .
‘ Buttercrunch ’
Eden Brothers sells‘Buttercrunch ’ seeds in a miscellany of packet sizes and in bulk .
Lettuce can be a magnet for pests , large and small .
Deerenjoy munch on the pinnace go out andrabbitslike to demolish new plants .
A sort of different insect may invade your ‘ Buttercrunch , ’ from theever - present aphidto caterpillars , flea beetles , and fungus gnat . Many of these common pest can contribute to the spread of disease as well .
Slugs and snailsenjoy earn a meal of your sugar and will create revealing ragged fix in the leaves as they feed . A great infestation can decimate your crop .
you’re able to learn more about how to manage gelt pestilence in our full guide .
Almost all garden industrial plant are susceptible to some variety of disease , and ‘ Buttercrunch ’ is no exception .
Seedlings that suddenly die may be suffer from damp off . Downy mold is a fungal infection that can cause the leave to develop a fluffy mold on the underside of the leaves . Another fungal contagion is bottom rot , due to various coinage of fungi in theRhizoctoniagenus that live in the soil .
Bacterial leaf spot shows up as black lesion on the proscribed leaves and if allowed to spread , can put down your full crop .
Check out our guide to vulgar lettuce diseasesto find out more .
There are a few unlike way to reap ‘ Buttercrunch ’ lettuce , depending upon how you plan to use it .
Microgreens can be ready to harvest in as niggling as a few days or up to about two weeks .
Use a sharp knife or scissor grip to cut the sprout close to the root by the smattering , or simply brush off the seed coats and use the entire sprout .
straight off after harvest sprout , refrigerate them to keep them sweet . Be inclined to use them within a few day to a workweek maximum , because they do n’t have a long shelf life .
Individual leafage can be trend from lettuce in the garden or in containers any clip after a head has formed . Always cut leaves from the outside first , because leaves cut from the interior of the head will not regenerate .
Harvesting individual leaf is a just path to keep plants growing through the season if you do n’t be after to plant more than one craw . It ’s also a good way to let plant to continue their life cycle if you plan to pull in seed from them .
Bear in mind that you do not want to remove more than a few leaf at a time from each head if you go this itinerary , as take away too much can kill the plants .
track leaves can be stored in the refrigerator , typically for up to a few week . I prefer to put in them in a slide fastener - sealed plastic old bag with a newspaper towel to collect moisture and forbid wilt .
Full heads can be harvested at any clock time through the growing time of year . You may take to cut the oral sex from the stem , or draw out the full plant up by the roots .
If you plan to set more than one crop of ‘ Buttercrunch ’ per time of year in the same plot of ground , harvesting the entire plant – theme and all – is best , especially if you ’ve had any soilborne disease takings .
Harvested heads can be stored in the icebox for one to two workweek , especially if the roots are kept intact .
Heads can be hive away in the refrigerator , in a bowl with a little amount of water at the bottom as this provides wet for the ascendent , stay fresh the head reinvigorated .
Heads can also be stored with a cockeyed paper towel in a congius - sized zipper - sealed bag , or separated into leave , washed and dried , and kept in a ventilate simoleons steward in the fridge .
It ’s best to keep your glean ‘ Buttercrunch ’ cover to prevent the potential buildup of bacteria from contact with other items in the refrigerator .
A Staple Crop that is Versatile and Easy to Grow
perchance you ’re concerned in fork out from the everyday ‘ Iceberg , ’ and you ’re considering alter thing up with ‘ Buttercrunch ’ this bound or fall .
Perhaps you ’ve got a number of varieties on your planting inclination because you ’re a dead on target salad connoisseur , or maybe you ’re brand new to gardening and depend for an well-off , productive crop .
No matter what your plans are , ‘ Buttercrunch ’ is the perfectly various go - to you ’re sure to choose over and over again once it becomes a dearie . And it can be a part of your garden year around , with a little necessary training .
If you ’re looking for more information aboutother types of lettuceand how to grow them , these articles may be useful :
Photo by Felicia Lim © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally write July 12th , 2021 . Last updated : March 27th , 2025 . Product picture via Eden Brothers , Greenstalk , Amazon , Emsiok , and True Leaf Market . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Kelly Spicer
