What is Buttercrunch Lettuce?
Butterhead lettuces are sought after for their “buttery” flavor and velvety texture. The small, loosely formed heads yield leaves that are at once delicate and yet strong enough to roll into lettuce wraps. Butterhead lettuce has soft, green, slightly curled leaves wrapped around a loose inner head of blanched, sweet-flavored, interior leaves. The butterhead lettuce ‘Buttercrunch’ has the above qualities with the added advantage of being slightly more tolerant of heat. As mentioned, Butterhead lettuce is more resistant to heat, thus bolting less than other butterhead lettuces. It stays mild long after others become bitter. Buttercrunch was developed by George Raleigh of Cornell University and is an All-American Selection winner for 1963. It was the gold standard for butterhead lettuce for years.
Growing Buttercrunch Lettuce
Buttercrunch lettuce is ready to harvest in about 55-65 days from sowing. Although it tolerates heat better than other lettuces, it should still be planted early in spring or later in the fall season. Seeds may be sown indoors a few weeks prior to the last frost for your area. Sow seeds 8 inches (20.5 cm). apart in partial shade or an area of eastern exposure, if possible, in fertile soil. Space plants about 10-12 inches (25.5-30.5 cm.) apart with a foot (30.5 cm.) between rows.
Buttercrunch Lettuce Care
If the plants are situated in an area with more sun, use a shade cloth to protect them. Keep the plants moderately moist. For a continuous supply of lettuce, plant successive plantings every two weeks. Leaves can be collected throughout the growing cycle or the entire plant can be harvested.
