Lettuce Butterhead Seeds - Kirchhoffs
- Product Code: 93507726
- Availability: 25
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R59.00
Lettuce Butterhead Seeds by Kirchhoffs.
Kirchhoffs Lettuce Butterhead Seeds are a classic kitchen salad variety for South African home gardens. Plants form large, firm, slightly flattened heads with smooth, intense-green outer leaves and a rich golden-yellow heart. The leaves are tender and mild — the “buttery” texture that makes butterhead lettuce a favourite for salads, sandwiches and lettuce cups. Botanical name: Lactuca sativa. Common names: lettuce / blaarslaai.
Sow 3 mm deep and space plants about 30 × 30 cm. Germination usually takes 7–14 days at 15–20 °C. Harvest whole heads in 60–90 days, or pick outer leaves earlier. Keep soil evenly moist, use fertile well-drained soil, and give full sun in cool weather or light shade in hot months so plants do not bolt and turn bitter. Suitable for beds, raised beds and containers.
Best time to grow in South Africa:
Kirchhoffs lists this variety as suitable year-round, but butterhead prefers cool, mild temperatures (about 15–20 °C). Heat makes it bolt.
- Best windows for most gardens: late summer to autumn (March–May) and late winter to spring (August–October).
- Cold, heavy-frost areas: January–April and July–December.
- Warm areas with light frost: most months of the year.
- Hot, frost-free areas: February–August/September; use 30–40% shade cloth in peak summer.
Sow successive batches every 3–4 weeks for a continuous harvest. Avoid the hottest midsummer weeks unless you can keep plants cool and well watered.
What these seeds can be used for:
- Fresh garden salads and sandwich greens
- Whole-head harvest for the kitchen
- Lettuce cups and wraps
- Containers and small-space vegetable beds
- Succession sowing for a longer picking season
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the best time to plant Kirchhoffs Butterhead lettuce seeds in South Africa?
Cooler months give the best heads: March–May and August–October in most regions. Kirchhoffs marks the variety as year-round, but shade and extra water are needed in midsummer to prevent bolting. - How long does Butterhead lettuce take to harvest?
Germination is usually 7–14 days. Whole heads are typically ready 60–90 days after sowing. You can pick outer leaves sooner. - How deep and how far apart should I sow Butterhead lettuce?
Sow 3 mm deep and space plants about 30 cm × 30 cm so the heads can form without crowding. - Can I grow Butterhead lettuce in pots?
Yes. Use a wide container with drainage, quality potting mix and consistent moisture. One pot can hold a few plants if they are spaced properly. - Why does my lettuce go bitter or shoot up a flower stem?
That is bolting, usually caused by heat or drought. Sow in cooler weather, water regularly and use light shade in summer.
