Boston lettuce belongs to the butterhead group. It forms a supple rounded head with a tender heart and thick yet melting leaves. Iceberg produces a much firmer tighter brittle head. ‘Nancy’ should therefore be harvested when full but still slightly yielding rather than waiting for hardness. Its large leaves separate easily for salads or lettuce cups while the heart may be eaten whole.
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Green Boston-type butterhead lettuce
Asteraceae
Semences biologiques de légumes-tiges
Organic ‘Nancy’ Boston lettuce (Lactuca sativa ‘Nancy’)
Lactuca sativa ‘Nancy’
Organic Nancy Green Boston Lettuce produces beautiful compact heads with tender, flavorful leaves. It is ideal for succession planting in Canadian vegetable gardens.
Quantity
Approximately 50 coated seeds
Exposure
Full sun to light partial shade
Difficulty level
Moderate
Discover the plant
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Lactuca
Species
sativa
Cultivar
Nancy
Type
Green Boston-type butterhead lettuce
Cycle
Biennial grown as an annual
Organic ‘Nancy’ Boston lettuce (Lactuca sativa ‘Nancy’) is green butterhead lettuce valued for large uniform heads, a well-filled heart, and thick yet remarkably tender leaves. Medium-green outer foliage surrounds a paler mild supple centre with the melting texture typical of Boston lettuce. It forms a softer head than iceberg but is more organized than open leaf lettuce. It suits delicate salads, sandwiches, wraps, lettuce cups, and fresh garnishes.
Direct-sow as soon as soil can be worked or start plants three to four weeks before transplanting. Barely cover seed and keep it cool for uniform emergence. Space plants 25–30 cm apart so every head develops a full heart and air circulates. Choose loose fertile soil enriched with mature compost, moisture-retentive, and well drained. Grow in sun during cool weather; in summer, provide light afternoon shade and steady moisture to preserve tenderness and delay bolting.
Production references generally list approximately 50 to 52 days according to direct seeding, transplanting, and desired size. Harvest the entire head once full but still yielding under light pressure, before the central stem elongates. Cornell lists resistance to bottom rot and lettuce mosaic virus. These resistances do not guarantee immunity. Provide airflow, avoid splashing, remove severely affected plants, and rotate with unrelated crops.
Planting guide
From planting to establishment.
Planting depth
Barely covered, approximately 0.3 to 0.5 cm (1/8 to 1/4 in)
Spacing / density
Éclaircir à environ 10 à 15 cm (4 à 6 po), avec 30 à 45 cm (12 à 18 po) entre les rangs
Establishment temperature
Approximately 10 to 20°C (50 to 68°F); germination drops sharply in hot soil
Establishment time
Environ 7 à 10 jours
Best planting time
Early spring as soon as soil can be worked, then late summer for an autumn crop
Propagation
Propagated by seed, either direct sown in the garden or started in containers. Seeds remain viable for several years when stored in a cool, dry location.
Growing method
Sow on fine moist soil and cover only 0.3–0.5 cm. Keep cool until emergence. Thin or transplant to leave 25–30 cm between plants; regular spacing encourages a uniform well-aired head. Harden three- to four-week-old transplants without burying the crown. Water immediately, maintain continuous growth, and make small batches every two or three weeks. Provide light afternoon shade during warm periods.
Soil and care
The right conditions.
Exposure
Full sun to light partial shade
Soil pH
Slightly acidic to neutral
Minimum temperature
-2°C (28°F)
Watering
Keep the surface consistently moist during germination with a very gentle stream so barely covered seeds are not displaced. Once established, water deeply as soon as the top one or two centimetres begin to dry. Shallow roots poorly tolerate cycles of drought and excess water; this stress encourages bitterness, tipburn, and bolting. Water early in the morning at soil level or by drip, avoid splashing soil onto leaves, and apply light mulch after thinning. Check containers daily in hot or windy weather.
Soil type
Prepare loose fine fertile soil enriched with mature compost, able to retain steady moisture without becoming waterlogged. Lettuce has relatively shallow roots; crusted, compact, or very sandy soil quickly slows growth and makes foliage more bitter. Aim for approximately pH 6.0–7.0. Incorporate organic matter before sowing rather than placing fresh manure near leaves. Improve drainage in heavy soil and avoid beds where bottom rot and lettuce mosaic virus or other lettuce disease has recently occurred.
Fertilization
Incorporate compost before sowing to encourage rapid leaf production. A light nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer may be used in poor soils to improve foliage quality.
Seasonal care
Make successive sowings to extend harvests from spring through autumn. Keep the soil consistently moist to prevent bitterness and premature bolting. Weed regularly around the plants to reduce competition. Harvest outer leaves as needed or cut the entire head once mature. Apply a light mulch to keep the soil cool during summer.
Container growing
A controlled environment.
Recommended pot size
At least 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) deep and approximately 5 to 7 L per plant
Use a container at least 20–25 cm deep with numerous holes and allow approximately 25–30 cm diameter per mature rosette. A wide box may also hold one denser baby-leaf strip. Fill with light fertile well-drained mix, place in sun during spring, then light partial shade during strong heat. Water as soon as the surface begins to dry and never leave standing water in the saucer. Pick outer leaves regularly or cut the entire rosette at maturity.
Bloom and dimensions
The complete profile.
Flower color
Pale yellow
Foliage color
Tender green
Foliage type
Deciduous
Growth rate
Fast
Bloom period
Yellow flowers in the second year if the plant overwinters and bolts
Harvest
Begin checking at approximately 48 days and generally harvest in 50–52 days once the head is full, well formed, and still slightly yielding under the hand. Cut at soil level early in the morning with a clean knife, retain a few sound wrapper leaves to protect the heart, and chill immediately. Wash only before use and refrigerate in a perforated bag. Harvest promptly if the central stem elongates, the heart loosens, or flavour becomes more bitter.
Garden associations
What to plant with it.
Good companions
Beetroot, spinach
Avoid planting with
Parsley, celery
Raw sticks, salads, slaws, sautés, roasts, soups, and cooked young leaves
From the garden to inspiration.
‘Nancy’ lettuce cups — Separate eight large sound leaves, wash thoroughly in several changes of cold water, and dry. Mix 250 g cooked chickpeas, cucumber, sweet pepper, parsley, 15 ml oil, and 15 ml lemon juice. Spoon into leaves immediately before serving. Keep every ingredient cold and refrigerate leftovers within two hours. Discard every slimy, mouldy, or abnormal-smelling leaf.
Frequently asked questions
Everything toknow.
Begin checking at approximately 48 days. The head is ready once it appears full, the heart is well filled, and it still yields slightly under gentle pressure. Harvest generally at 50–52 days, earlier in heat or later when growth is slow. An elongating central stem, opening heart, or more bitter flavour signals bolting. Cut early in the morning and chill immediately to preserve tender texture.
Cornell lists resistance to bottom rot and lettuce mosaic virus. Resistance reduces risk or severity under some conditions but does not guarantee protection against every strain or replace prevention. Use sufficient spacing, water without splashing, remove severely affected plants, and rotate crops. Do not attribute downy mildew, corky root rot, or other resistance to ‘Nancy’ without a precise source.
Yes. Its compact growth makes it an excellent choice for containers, window boxes, raised beds, and other small-space gardens.
This variety produces beautiful, tender heads with exceptional flavor. It is valued for its easy cultivation, rapid growth, and reliable harvests.
Its strengths, naturally.
Plants that attract butterflies
Butterflies
