VegetableLettuce
White Boston Lettuce
White Boston Lettuce is an improved Boston butterhead variety that thrives in warm, humid conditions where other lettuces struggle. The heads grow elevated off the ground with smooth, lightly wrinkled light green leaves and gracefully curved edges, making them both beautiful and entirely harvestable. Ready in 60 to 69 days, this annual grows 5 to 10 inches tall and performs well across hardiness zones 2 through 10, adapting equally to spring and fall planting.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Growth Stats
10 in
Height
Spacing
8
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
2-10
Size
10in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The leaves lift high on the stem rather than nestling close to the ground, which means you harvest more usable lettuce from each head. This elevated growth habit was a meaningful improvement over standard Boston varieties. The smooth-textured leaves with their characteristic curl and light green color stay tender even in humidity that causes other butterheads to bolt or develop bitter flavors.
Common Uses
White Boston Lettuce Is Grown For Fresh SaladsLeafy Dishes Where Its Tender TextureMild Flavor Shine. The Entire Harvestable Head Is UsedMaking It Efficient For Kitchen Preparation
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Sow seeds indoors at a temperature of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Transplant outdoors after establishing seedlings, thinning to the final spacing once outdoor conditions are suitable.
Transplant Outdoors
After seedlings develop true leaves, transplant to full sun locations spaced 8 inches apart. This variety tolerates frost, so spring and fall planting windows both work well.
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly into garden beds at 1/2 inch depth. After 2 weeks, thin seedlings to appropriate spacing.
Harvesting
White Boston Lettuce matures in 60 to 69 days from planting. Harvest when heads feel full and firm, typically after reaching the compact size characteristic of butterhead types. The elevated growth habit means the entire head is harvestable without struggling to reach ground-level leaves.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Lactuca sativa
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Lactuca
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“White Boston represents a refinement of the classic Boston butterhead type, developed as an improved cultivar to overcome the challenges gardeners faced with earlier versions. The exact lineage and development details are not documented in the available sources, though its emergence reflects the long tradition of selecting and stabilizing superior lettuce types for home and market gardeners.”