Lettuce Rhapsody - Renee's Garden

Lactuca sativa

Butterhead Lettuce

EXCLUSIVE - You’ll prize these big rosettes of softly folded luscious leaves for their delicate texture and melt-in-your-mouth flavor. Rhapsody is a new top-quality variety bred for flavor, form and vigor. Plants grow effortlessly into large, luxurious heads with that wonderful satiny texture and rich buttery taste that only a premium butterhead can yield. Unsurpassed for salads, whether tossed with a rich blue cheese dressing or a simple vinaigrette.

Seed Count: Approx. 525 / Weight: 0.5 g

START SEEDS OUTDOORS

In cool early spring weather, sow seeds in finely worked soil in full sun. Sow 1/4 in. deep and 2 in. apart in rows 6 to 8 in. apart and cover lightly. Tend carefully and keep evenly moist. Gradually thin out extra seedlings, leaving remaining plants standing 12 in. apart so lettuces have room to size up and fully mature into big butterhead rosettes. For a constant supply, make several sowings a few weeks apart until summer weather turns hot. Plant again in late summer for fall harvest.

GROWING NOTES

Lettuce thrives in cool conditions with consistent moisture. Weed, water and be sure to thin carefully to proper spacing for best quality heavy heads. If birds are attracted to young seedlings, cover with floating row covers or netting. Make a shade structure in hotter climates to extend the growing season.

HARVEST AND USE

Savor young thinnings in your first spring salads. Then harvest plants by cutting mature heads when they feel firm and well-filled out. Be sure to thin properly and keep evenly moist for sweet tasting, full heads. Pull and discard or compost over-mature plants if they begin to elongate ("bolt") in hot weather as leaves turn bitter at this stage.