Northern Queen, Heirloom Butterhead Lettuce Seeds

Northern Queen, Heirloom Butterhead Lettuce Seeds — The Pre-1950 English Butterhead That Overwinters and Thrives in Cold, Damp Weather

Northern Queen (Lactuca sativa) is a beautiful light-green butterhead heirloom that was popular in English gardens and farms in the 1950s — originally sold by Finney’s of Northumberland, England, before 1950. Quick to produce a medium-sized head with soft, tender, buttery leaves and a mild, sweet flavor. Cold and damp weather tolerant, it resists bolting until the summer gets hot. Prefers a cooler climate and can be sown in September to overwinter with protection — making it one of the most versatile cool-season butterheads available. 300+ seeds per packet.

Why Grow Northern Queen?

• Pre-1950 English heirloom — originally sold by Finney’s of Northumberland, England
• Cold and damp weather tolerant — thrives where other butterheads struggle
• Overwinters with protection — sow in September for winter and early spring harvest
• Resists bolting until summer heat — extended cool-season harvest window
• Quick to produce medium-sized heads — soft, tender, buttery leaves
• Mild, sweet butterhead flavor — excellent fresh in salads
• Open-pollinated heirloom — save seed year after year

Growing Notes

Direct sow outdoors in early spring (2–4 weeks before last frost) or in September for overwintering with protection. Sow seeds ⅛ inch deep — lettuce needs light to germinate, so barely cover. Thin to 6 plants per square foot or 12 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart. Full sun to part shade. Keep soil consistently moist. Harvest outer leaves when 6 inches long for cut-and-come-again, or cut the whole head 1 inch from the soil — a new head will form.

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden’s success.