Butterhead lettuce Kagraner sommer is an organicaly grown, deliciously tender and soft lettuce variety. This variety is also known as butterlettuce. Butterhead lettuce Kagraner Summer is a traditional lettuce variety that has been appreciated for many years for its large, loose heads and excellent performance during the warmer months of the year. The plants produce firm heads with large, dark green, slightly crinkled and exceptionally tender leaves. Thanks to its delicate texture and fresh flavour, this mid-season variety is popular with both home gardeners and vegetable growers. One of the greatest advantages of butterhead lettuce Kagraner Summer is its excellent heat tolerance. While many lettuce varieties bolt quickly in warm weather, this variety continues to grow well and produces attractive, well-filled heads even during warmer periods. This makes it particularly suitable for spring and summer cultivation, both in the open ground and in raised beds or vegetable gardens.
Culinarily, butterhead lettuce Kagraner Summer is highly versatile. Its tender yet crisp leaves are perfect as the base for fresh salads and pair beautifully with cucumber, tomato, sweet pepper, radish, carrot and avocado. They also combine well with cheese, boiled eggs, chicken, smoked salmon, tuna and grilled vegetables. Thanks to its firm leaf structure, the lettuce remains pleasantly crisp even after being mixed with dressing. The large leaves are also ideal for sandwiches, wraps, burgers, tacos and as an edible garnish for cold platters. Butterhead lettuce Kagraner Summer grows best in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil that remains evenly moist. Regular watering helps prevent plant stress and reduces the risk of bolting. By sowing every two to three weeks, you can enjoy a continuous harvest of fresh, flavourful lettuce throughout much of the growing season. Non hardy annual.
Indoor sowing: February - March
Outdoor sowing: May - July
Germination: 7 - 10 days
Germination temp.: 15 - 18 °C
Sowing depth.: ½ cm
Planting distance: 20 - 30 cm
Planting position: sunny with some shade
Days till harvest: 55 - 85
Sow indoors from February onwards. Use a light, well-drained seed compost and sow the seeds approximately ½ cm deep. Cover them with only a thin layer of compost, as the seeds require some light for successful germination. The ideal germination temperature is 15 - 18 °C . Under these conditions, the seeds usually germinate within 7 to 10 days. Keep the seed compost evenly moist during germination, but avoid making it waterlogged. Once the seedlings have developed several true leaves after approximately 3 to 4 weeks, they can be transplanted into individual pots. Allow them to continue growing in a bright location. When the risk of frost has passed, harden the plants off before transplanting them outdoors. Space the plants 20 to 30 cm apart to allow the heads to develop properly.
From May onwards, once frost is no longer expected, the seeds can be sown directly outdoors. Choose a sunny location with light shade during the hottest part of the day. This helps the soil retain moisture and reduces the risk of the plants bolting prematurely. Sow the seeds about ½ cm deep in rows spaced 20 to 30 cm apart. Place three seeds every 20 cm and cover them lightly with soil. Keep the soil evenly moist during germination. After approximately 3 to 4 weeks, thin the seedlings by leaving the strongest plant at each sowing spot and removing the others. This gives each plant enough space to develop into a large, well-formed lettuce head.
For a continuous harvest, sow a new batch every three weeks. This ensures a steady supply of fresh lettuce throughout much of the growing season. Lettuce grows best in evenly moist soil. Water regularly during dry periods, as drought stress can cause the plants to bolt quickly and the leaves to become bitter. Also watch out for slugs and aphids. Young lettuce plants are especially attractive to slugs, while aphids often settle in the tender inner leaves. Regular inspection allows problems to be dealt with before they become serious. Depending on the variety and growing conditions, lettuce is ready to harvest after approximately 55 to 85 days. Harvest the heads once they are firm and fully developed for the best flavour and texture.
