Burgundy Boston Lettuce is a stunning heirloom butterhead variety that delivers both visual drama and culinary delight. Its striking red-tinged leaves create a beautiful contrast with the tender green interior, making it as ornamental as it is delicious. Ready to harvest in just 50-55 days, this open-pollinated variety thrives across all hardiness zones and grows to a compact 5-10 inches tall, fitting easily into garden beds, containers, or succession plantings. Beyond its eye-catching appearance, it offers exceptional flavor and a delicate, buttery texture that elevates any salad from ordinary to memorable.

Photo © True Leaf Market
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The real draw here is the color. Those deep burgundy outer leaves aren't just for show; they signal tenderness and a subtle flavor complexity that pure green lettuces often lack. The plant stays relatively compact at 5-10 inches tall, so even gardeners with limited space can grow a full crop. What truly sets it apart is the combination of that striking appearance with documented aphid resistance, meaning you get gorgeous leaves without fighting constant pest pressure. At 50-55 days to harvest, you can have salad-ready heads in less than two months from seed.
This lettuce is at its best in fresh salads where its striking coloring and tender texture shine. The outer burgundy leaves add visual interest to composed salads and grain bowls, while the buttery interior leaves are delicate enough to stand alone or pair with light vinaigrettes. It works beautifully in mixed greens, as a bed for other ingredients, or torn gently for a rustic presentation that highlights its natural beauty.
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Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds directly on moist seed-starting soil at a depth of 1/4 inch, keeping the medium between 60-70°F for germination. Seeds typically sprout within 7-10 days. Transplant seedlings into larger containers once they develop their first true leaves, maintaining consistent moisture.
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors when soil temperature reaches at least 50°F and the seedlings have developed 4-6 true leaves. Space plants 8 inches apart in rows spaced 18 inches apart. Plant in early spring or late summer for the best results; timing allows the lettuce to mature during cooler weather when plants are less likely to bolt.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, or in late summer 8-10 weeks before the first fall frost. Scatter seeds on moist soil and press gently into place at a depth of 1/4 inch. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination occurs.
Harvest when the head feels firm and compact, typically around 50-55 days after sowing. You can harvest individual outer leaves once the plant is established, or wait for the entire head to form and cut it at ground level. For the full butterhead experience, harvest in the morning when leaves are crisp and cool. The head is ready when it reaches 5-10 inches in diameter and the outer burgundy leaves feel tender but substantial.
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“Burgundy Boston Lettuce represents an heirloom tradition of butterhead lettuces that have been carefully selected and preserved for their quality. As an open-pollinated variety, it carries the hallmark of seeds that remain true to type across generations, allowing gardeners and seed savers to perpetuate it themselves. This variety embodies the seed-saving heritage that connects modern gardeners to decades of careful cultivation and selection for flavor, appearance, and performance.”