Marvel of Four Seasons Butterhead Lettuce earned its name by thriving through spring, summer, fall, and winter in mild climates, though it performs across a wide range of seasons wherever you garden. This butterhead variety produces tender, tightly packed heads that mature in 21 to 55 days, depending on your growing conditions and succession planting timing. With proper spacing and cool soil temperatures between 40°F and 70°F, you'll harvest compact heads 8 to 12 inches wide that pack the delicate, buttery leaves butterheads are prized for.
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The namesake versatility is real: you can sow this lettuce in spring before your last frost, succession-plant every three weeks through early summer, and start fresh sowings in summer for fall harvests in most climates. Gardeners in mild regions can push the envelope even further, sowing through fall and winter for near-year-round harvests. The frost tolerance means spring plantings can handle a surprising chill, and the compact 16-inch spacing lets you fit plenty into a small bed or container garden.
Marvel of Four Seasons is grown primarily for fresh harvest as a salad green. The tightly packed butterhead structure makes individual heads perfect for washing, tearing into a bowl, or separating leaves whole for composed salads. The tender texture and buttery character work best when eaten fresh rather than cooked.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date. You can also start seeds indoors in summer when outdoor soil temperatures exceed 80°F, which prevents direct-sown seed from germinating. Transplant seedlings outdoors at the same timing you would start them indoors.
Transplant seedlings 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date when they've developed several true leaves. Space transplants 16 inches apart in both directions. Harden off seedlings gradually before planting to acclimate them to outdoor conditions.
Sow seeds directly outdoors 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, once soil temperature reaches at least 40°F and ideally 60°F to 70°F. Continue succession sowings every 3 weeks until 4 to 6 weeks before your average first fall frost date. In mild climates, sow in fall and winter for cool season harvests.
Harvest heads when they feel firm to gentle pressure and have formed tight, compact heads, typically between 21 and 55 days after planting depending on temperature and light conditions. Cut the entire head at soil level with a sharp knife, or harvest outer leaves individually as needed if you prefer a slower, extended harvest. Morning harvest yields the crispest, most hydrated leaves.
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