Butter King Lettuce Seeds

Butter King is a classic butterhead (Boston type) lettuce that’s prized for its large, tender heads and mild, rich flavor. This vigorous heirloom grows heavy, crisp light-green leaves and holds well without turning bitter or bolting quickly — even in warmer weather. Butter King performs reliably in both spring and fall plantings and works beautifully for fresh salads, sandwiches, and greens straight from the garden.

Seed Packet Details

Packet Size: Standard home-garden seed packet (Approx. 500 seeds)

Packed with care and shipped from Kentucky.

Product Details

Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa
Variety: Butter King Butterhead Lettuce
Seed Type: Open-pollinated heirloom
Life Cycle: Annual

What to Expect

Butter King develops broad, buttery-soft butterhead leaves that form compact, easy-to-harvest heads around 12–13 ounces each. This variety is slow to bolt or become bitter, tolerates both cool and warm conditions, and has a classic mild lettuce flavor with excellent texture.

Growing Basics

Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Plant Height: 10–20 inches
Sow Method: Direct sow or transplant recommended
Sow Depth: 1/8 inch
Plant Spacing: 8–10 inches
Row Spacing: 12–18 inches
Days to Maturity: Approximately 60 days
Growing Conditions: Container friendly, cold tolerant, heat tolerant

Growing Guide: Lettuce

Overview

Lettuce is a cool-season leafy green that grows quickly and thrives in mild weather. Butterhead types like Butter King form soft, tender heads and are excellent for succession planting to enjoy a continuous supply throughout the season.

Before Planting

Choose fertile, well-drained soil in a location with morning sun and some afternoon shade if summer heat is intense. Lettuce prefers cool soil and can be one of the first crops sown in spring and again in late summer for fall harvests.

Planting

Direct sow seeds 1/8 inch deep as soon as the soil can be worked. Space seeds 8–10 inches apart in rows 12–18 inches apart. For earlier starts, sow indoors 3–4 weeks before transplanting outdoors once seedlings are established.

Watering

Keep soil evenly moist throughout the growing season. Consistent watering supports steady growth and tender leaves.

Fertilizing

Mix compost or balanced organic fertilizer into the soil before planting. Lettuce benefits from nutrient-rich soil for fast, healthy growth.

Days to Maturity

Butter King lettuce is typically ready to harvest in about 60 days, depending on conditions and planting date.

Harvesting

Harvest full heads when they reach desired size. Cut at the soil line for heads, or pick outer leaves as needed for leaf lettuce.

Growing Tips

Succession sow every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply of fresh leaves. Use mulch to help regulate soil temperature and moisture. Provide shade cloth in hot climates to slow bolting.