The Belles of the Spring Ball - Butter Lettuce

Optima - the ultimate butter suede texture

Butter Lettuce Season is returning here at Transition Farm. After a winter of eating hardy cos and gems, the delicate nature of the butter lettuces is so welcome. The soft sometimes suede like leaf texture, the way the colour changes as the enveloped centre is unwrapped and the buttery flavour that is delightful eaten raw, with a bit of salt, or topped with freshly shelled peas, radish and a simple vinegarette. The juicy leaves melt in your mouth. Surrounded by spring broccoli, english spinach, radishes, peas, fennel, silver beet, kale, beetroot, and artichokes, the glow of the butter lettuce is like a ballroom full of silk and chiffon dresses, swirling in the evening golden hour- the Belle’s of the spring ball.

Pirat - blistered leaves perfect for holding dressing

In Southern Victoria, we sow butter lettuce from July - mid/late October and harvest them from September to early January. Although some of the varieties cope better with heat and intense sunlight, we do find that they shine in the cooler conditions of Spring. The combination helps to develop their beautiful blanched centers.

Divina - great texture and easy to wash

We have a diverse offering of butter lettuces - all chosen for amazing flavour first and each highlighting some uniqueness which we found irresistible. In growing for market, we liked the difference in maturity dates - allowing us to harvest over several weeks with one planting.

Carmona - Large framed, blistered leaves, crunch

The above comparison chart is a downloadable pdf - clicking the image!

Tom Thumb - Mini lettuce perfect halved and served! Tight spacing and quick maturing for market growers

We have begun including some of the varieties in a salad mix and so far the results are promising. But we do love these lettuces as full heads, where their blanched, blonde centre offer a delicacy of flavour, texture and colour - like layers of a silk dress. From a more puckered leaf which holds dressing to a subtle unique flavour when completely raw, these lettuces are conversation pieces in salads, served under lightly steamed asparagus or beside a simple fish fillet.

Yugoslavian Red - stunning colour variation

Embrace Spring - sow butter lettuce!

Many of these are heirloom varieties preserved for decades - even centuries - and rarely grown by larger market growers. We offer a butter lettuce collection so you can grow them all and possibly discover a favorite - or several favorites!

Chez Le Bart - Swiss heirloom, most delicate, amazing raw flavour, beautiful blush