Boston

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Boston to a garden.

Sink your spoon into Boston’s lush, butter-soft leaves—tender, sweet, and delicately crisp with a creamy, pale-green heart.

Forming a classic butterhead rosette in about 50 days, this variety delivers a velvety texture that stays pleasantly mild and succulent for fresh garden harvests. Ideal for fresh salads and elegant platters, Boston’s gentle flavor shines with minimal dressing and bright, garden-fresh simplicity.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Boston Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	May 11th	Jun 1st	Jul 21st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	May 4th	May 25th	Jul 14th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 4th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 4th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 28th	May 19th	Jul 8th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 4th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 22nd	May 13th	Jul 2nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jun 27th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 13th	May 4th	Jun 23rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jun 20th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Apr 4th	Apr 25th	Jun 14th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 30th	Apr 20th	Jun 9th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 20th	Apr 10th	May 30th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 11th	Apr 1st	May 21st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Mar 2nd	Mar 23rd	May 12th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 13th	Mar 6th	Apr 25th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 19th	Feb 9th	Mar 31st – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	50
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Boston is butterhead’s soft-spoken cousin—lush, sweet, and creamy without sharpness, so it rewards restraint. Pair it with bright acid (lemon/vinaigrette) and creamy or salty ingredients so every bite feels cold, tender, and clean rather than drowned.

Best Uses

fresh-cut salads where the leaves won’t shred under dressing
simple butter-anchored vinaigrettes (lemon + olive oil) that cling without overpowering
platter lettuce cups for seafood or chicken—lifts cold, rich fillings
quick sautéing or steaming just to tame the edges for short-lived warm sides

Flavor Profile

buttery-sweet, mild flavor velvety, tender leaves with a clean delicate crunch creamy pale-green heart that stays succulent light herbaceous freshness with a gentle finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil feta grilled shrimp cracked black pepper buttermilk ranch

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage powdery mildew on Boston lettuce?

Powdery mildew often shows up as a white, dusty coating on Boston lettuce leaves during warm, humid stretches with poor airflow. Remove the most affected leaves immediately, thin plants so air can circulate, and water the soil (not the foliage) so leaves dry faster. If it keeps spreading, treat with an appropriate garden fungicide labeled for edible leafy greens and follow the label timing, avoiding harvest until the stated re-entry/PHI period is over.

How often should I water Boston lettuce during the 50-day growing phase?

During the main growth period, keep soil consistently evenly moist—about 1 inch of water per week total, split into smaller waterings as needed. Water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry to the touch; Boston lettuce is prone to bitterness and bolting if it dries out, especially in part-sun and warmer spells. Use mulch to reduce moisture swings, and avoid letting plants sit in soggy soil that stays wet.

When is Boston lettuce ready to harvest at about 50 days?

Harvest when heads are firm and leaves are crisp, typically around 50 days from sowing (or sooner for smaller heads). Check by gently squeezing the plant base—if it feels well-filled with minimal give, it’s ready; if it’s loose or noticeably soft, wait a few more days. Cut at the base in the morning for best crispness, before leaves start to elongate or bolt.