Butterhead Lettuce
May Queen is a delicate butterhead lettuce that earned its place in European gardens during the early 19th century and remains a favorite among gourmet chefs today. The heads are manageable in size with tender yellow hearts gently blushed rose, wrapped in silky soft leaves that deliver a buttery sweet flavor characteristic of old-fashioned butterhead types. Hardy in zones 4 through 9, it matures in just 50 days and tolerates frost, making it reliable for spring and fall plantings. Plant it early in the season or as a fall crop to experience what made this heirloom the crown jewel of European kitchen gardens.
Full Sun
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4-9
?in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
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The tender yellow hearts blushed with rose are as beautiful as they are delicate, and the silky leaves carry the signature buttery sweetness that defines a true European butterhead. Early maturation at 50 days means you can succession plant through spring and fall for continuous harvests. Its frost tolerance extends the growing season naturally, and the medium-sized heads fit naturally into home gardens without overwhelming kitchen production.
May Queen shines in fresh salads where its silky leaves and buttery flavor can take center stage. Its delicate texture and tender hearts make it especially suited to composed salads and vinaigrettes that let the lettuce's natural sweetness come through. The medium-sized heads work well for small households or for multiple plantings staggered through the season.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost date, planting them at a depth of 1/4 inch in soil kept between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during germination. Seedlings are ready to transplant once they develop true leaves.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, as May Queen is frost-tolerant. Space plants 8 inches apart in full sun with soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Firm soil gently around each plant and water thoroughly after transplanting.
Direct sow seeds in early spring as soon as soil is workable, or in mid to late summer for fall harvest. Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep and water gently to keep soil moist during germination. Thin seedlings to 8 inches apart once they develop true leaves.
May Queen matures in approximately 50 days from transplanting or direct sowing. Harvest when heads feel firm to the touch and the tender yellow hearts are fully formed but before the plant bolts. Cut the entire head at soil level in the early morning when leaves are crisp, or harvest outer leaves individually if you prefer a longer harvest window. For best flavor and texture, harvest before temperatures consistently exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
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“May Queen originated as a European heirloom during the early 19th century, when butterhead lettuce types were refined in kitchen gardens across the continent. Its manageable size, early maturity, and exceptional leaf texture made it a staple for European gardeners who valued both productivity and refinement. The variety survived into the modern seed-saving movement through heirloom catalogs and dedicated growers who recognized its culinary and cultural value, preserving a direct link to pre-industrial European vegetable gardening traditions.”