Buttercrunch Lettuce

Photo: flickr user quinn.anya

About

This heirloom lettuce has compact heads with thick, juicy, crisp green leaves tinged in red, and a compact yellow-white heart. It has a mild, buttery flavor and is excellent for salads and garnishes. It is also very tolerant to heat and slow to bolt.

It is a variety of Bibb and was developed to be more heat tolerant than the original Bibb lettuce.

Information

Other names: Butterhead Lettuce, Latuca Sativa

Translations: Buttercrunch salāti, Buttercrunch Salotos, Salată Buttercrunch, Buttercrunch salata, Rau diếp Buttercrunch, Buttercrunch Sałata, Sla Buttercrunch, Buttercrunch लेटिष, Buttercrunch Alface, Buttercrunch Салаты, Buttercrunch Μαρούλι, Buttercrunch خس, Buttercrunch 상추, Buttermilk Salát, Buttercrunch Selada, Buttercrunch litsugas, Buttercrunch生菜, Buttercrunch Enciam, Buttercrunch Solata, Buttermilk Šalát, Buttercrunch Lattuga, Buttercrunch חסה, Buttercrunch Sallat, Буттерцрунцх Зелена салата, Buttercrunchレタス, Buttercrunch laitue, Buttercrunch Kopfsalat, Buttercrunch Salat, Buttercrunch Salat, Buttercrunch Lechuga, Buttercrunch Салати, Buttercrunch Salaatit, Buttercrunch маруля

Physical Description

Similar to the bibb types, this letuce differs in its thick green leaves and small, tight head. Outer leaves are wavy and thick, so the head looks like the outer leaves are close to falling off. The inner leaves and core are tighter and paler in color, sometimes even creamy yellowy green.

Colors: green, dark green, core can be creamy.

Tasting Notes

Flavors: buttery flavor, sweet

Mouthfeel: Crisp, Crunchy, Luscious.

Food complements: Tomato, Other lettuces, Shredded carrots, Avocado

Wine complements: Dry white wine

Substitutes: Bibb lettuce

Selecting and Buying

Seasonality: may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november

Choosing: The cores should be tight and crisp. The outer leaves should be green and crisp. No bruising, wrinkling or blemishes. Should look and smell fresh.

Buying: Not at all grocery stores. Look for it at health food stores, upscale grocers, gourmet stores and farmer's markets. Order the seeds on line to grow in a home garden.

Procuring: Domestic crop in the USA. Seeds can be started indoors or in a greenhouse before the end of frosts. Plant outdoors after danger of frost is past. Tolerates heat. Needs ample water. Matures in 55-65 days.