Description
'Australe' organic butterhead lettuce is a standout variety with bright green leaves kissed with bronze tips, combining the buttery texture of a traditional butterhead with the upright growth of mini romaine. Harvest tender baby greens in just 21 days or enjoy compact, full heads in 55 days. Perfect for gardens of all sizes, this frost-tolerant lettuce thrives in cool weather and partial shade, delivering fresh, delicious greens for your table.
Days to Maturity: 21-55 days
Family: Asteraceae
Type: Butterhead Lettuce (Learn more)
Native: Unknown; lettuce has been in cultivation for a long time
Hardiness: Frost-tolerant annual
Exposure: Full sun to part shade. Extend the growing period by growing where taller plants will shade the lettuce from the late afternoon sun.
Plant Dimensions: 8″-9″ wide, 7″-8″ tall
Variety Info: A mid-sized butterhead lettuce with bright green leaves with bronze tips. Soft, buttery leaves on a compact head that exhibits more of an upright habit than typical butterheads.
Attributes: Frost Tolerant
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 40°F, ideally 60°-70°F. Successive Sowings: Every 3 weeks until 4 to 6 weeks before your average first fall frost date. Mild Climates: Sow in fall and winter for cool-season harvests.
When to Start Inside: 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, and in summer when soil temperatures are too warm (above 80°F) to germinate lettuce seed.
Days to Emerge: 5-10 days
Seed Depth:Surface to 1/8″
Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 6″
Row Spacing: 8″
Thinning: When 1/2″ tall, thin to 1 every 6″
Harvesting: Harvest in the morning, by cutting off at ground level. If regrowth is desired, cut the leaves higher, at 2″. For a continual supply, outer, individual leaves can be harvested at any stage of maturity, but leave at least half of the plant for regrowth.
Special Care: Rotate lettuce and other crops in the Asteraceae family so they are not grown in the same spot more than once in 3 years. If corky root disease is a problem in your area, start seed indoors, avoid fertilizing with high-nitrogen fertilizers, and use proper rotation methods.
