Butterhead Lettuce 'May Queen' – Seeds (Lactuca sativa)

Butterhead Lettuce 'May Queen' is a classic, slow-bolting variety producing soft, tender, and buttery green leaves with a mild, sweet flavor. Ideal for salads, sandwiches, and wraps, it forms compact, easy-to-harvest heads and thrives in spring and early summer sowings. Perfect for home gardens, raised beds, and container cultivation.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors from February to April or directly outdoors from March to June.

• Sow 0.5–1 cm deep in fertile, well-drained soil.

• Thin seedlings to 20–25 cm apart to allow head development.

• Prefers partial shade to full sun and consistent moisture.

• Harvest outer leaves or whole heads when mature.

Key Features

• Tender, buttery green leaves

• Slow-bolting, ideal for spring and early summer

• Compact, easy-to-harvest heads

• Mild, sweet flavor suitable for fresh eating

• Perfect for containers, raised beds, and garden rows

Ideal For

• Fresh salads, sandwiches, and wraps

• Home gardens and small spaces

• Successive sowings for continuous harvest

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February to June

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: 20–25 cm

• Harvest: April to July

Quick Tip

• Keep soil evenly moist and shade young seedlings during hot spells to prevent bitterness.