Butterhead Lettuce May Queen is a classic heirloom lettuce variety known not only for its early growth but also for its excellent flavour. The large, dark green heads with their elegant red-tinged leaf edges and bronze-coloured hearts make a beautiful presentation on the plate. The leaves are wonderfully tender, juicy and buttery soft, with a mild, slightly sweet flavour and a refined, fresh finish. Thanks to its delicate flavour, May Queen is exceptionally versatile in the kitchen. It naturally comes into its own in fresh spring salads, combined with ingredients such as radishes, cucumber, young spinach, fresh herbs, eggs, goat’s cheese or smoked salmon. A simple dressing of olive oil, lemon juice or white wine vinegar with a touch of mustard is often enough to fully enhance its subtle flavour.
May Queen is also surprisingly delicious in warm dishes. Add the leaves only at the very end to a creamy lettuce soup or a light vegetable soup, allowing them to wilt briefly while retaining their fresh taste. The tender leaves are also excellent on sandwiches, gourmet rolls and wraps, or as a fresh garnish for burgers. This lettuce also provides an excellent base for classic salads such as Russian salad, potato salad or pasta salad. The soft leaves combine beautifully with creamy ingredients without losing their own delicate character. The large leaves can also be used as healthy lettuce wraps, filled with chicken, smoked salmon, tofu, hummus or grilled vegetables. They are equally suitable as elegant appetisers, filled with a fresh salad or herb cream cheese. For the best flavour, harvest the heads as soon as they are fully closed and firmly formed. Young heads are especially tender and juicy. As May Queen is sensitive to heat and prone to bolting, it is important to harvest the lettuce at the right time, preferably between mid-May and the end of May. After harvesting, the lettuce will remain fresh for several days in the refrigerator, but for the best flavour and maximum nutritional value it is recommended to use it as fresh as possible. With its buttery-soft leaves, mild sweet flavour and decorative appearance, Butterhead Lettuce May Queen is an excellent choice for lovers of classic spring vegetables. This historic variety proves that a simple head of lettuce can be a surprisingly versatile ingredient, suitable for both cold and warm dishes. Non hardy annual.
Indoor sowing: end of February - beginning of March
Germination: 5 - 10 days
Germination temp.: 10 - 18 °C
Sowing depth: ½ cm
Plant distance: 25 - 35 cm
Plant position: sunny
Days till harvest: 60 - 65
Harvest period: middle of - end of May
Sow indoors from the end of February. Sow in seperate pots filled with potting soil or use pots made of peat, these can be planted outdoors with the plants inside when the plants are large enough. Sow 1 or 2 seeds per pot. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil, because lettuce is a light germinator. Put the pots in a propagator with lid to retain the moisture. Keep the soil moist, but not to wet to prevent the seeds from rotting. Keep the temperature as even as possible and don't let the temperature drop to much during the nights. Thin the seedlings to 1 strongest per pot after 2 - 3 weeks.
Harden the young plants of in a cold frame from the beginning of April. This takes approx. 10 - 14 days. Put the plants after this period on a sunny plot with water retaining soil outdoors from half April - beginning of May, when there's no longer any danger of nightfrost. Choose a plot with with well fed, but not recently manured soil. Snails, slugs and aphids are a tread for You lettuce plants. This lettuce variety can bolt very easily. Prevent early bolting by watering the plants often and to make sure that the soil never dries out. Give this variety enough space to make large heads because this also prevents early bolting. And harvest the heads not long after they've formed. Approx. 60 days after sowing.
