100% Certified Organic & Demeter Certified Bio-Dynamic Seed
Grown, harvested, dried and packed on Transition Farm
NOTE - If ordering from Western Australia, please check the POSTAGE page for further information
Lettuce 'Tom Thumb' Butter
Lettuce 'Tom Thumb' Butter
Lactuca Sativa
One of the original mini lettuces, a true heirloom butterhead introduced to the USA from England in the late 1860’s, just after the Civil War. Medium green, very dense, savoyed leaves that are crunchy and buttery fold into creamy hearts. Makes a perfect split-head salad.
Fast maturing can be densely spaced in early spring plantings for abundant first-to-market heads. For weekly harvests, plan for tightly space successive plantings
Our breeding began with seed preserved by Frank Morton at Wild Garden Seed. We have further selected for uniformity and heat resilience – trying to improve these delicious heads ability to hold in the field.
SEED COUNT: 250, 1000, 5000 approx.
Germination: Lot#12258 96% Apr 2024
PLEASE NOTE: We do not authorize the repackaging of our seed without written permission
Seed Raising, Growing and Harvest Information
| Plant Type | Site | Spacing | Height | Sowing Depth |
Days to Germination |
Days to Maturity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardy Annual | Full Sun | 15cm apart in rows 20cm apart |
17cm | 3mm | 4-6 days @ 16-20°C |
35 days |
TRANSPLANT - Sow indoors early Spring, 2 seeds per cell, barely covering seeds with fine vermiculite, 3–4 weeks before transplanting outdoors. Thin to 1 plant/cell. Shade the flats on sunny, warm days if necessary to keep the soil surface cool, below 24°C, until germination. Harden seedlings by reducing water and temperature for 2-3 days before planting outdoors. Properly hardened transplants can survive temperatures as low as 0°C.
DIRECT SOW - Lettuce is hardy and can be planted as early as the soil can be worked. It is a cool weather crop and grows best at temperatures of 16-18°C. Seeds germinate even at low, 4°C, soil temperature, but poorly above 24°C. Sow seeds 2.5cm apart in rows 20cm apart. Lightly cover and keep moist. Enjoy thinnings ultimately leaving 20cm between plants. Ample water grows the sweetest lettuce. Careful variety selection is important for hot weather plantings. Sow every 3 weeks for a continuous supply of fresh lettuce.
