Butterhead Adriana

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Sink your spoon into Butterhead Adriana’s tender, butter-soft leaves—an alluring pale-green rosette that feels silken and cool with every bite.

The heads form at about 55 days, building a gently cupped, spoonable texture with mild, sweet flavor and a crisp-yet-delicate crunch at the center. Ideal for fresh salads and elegant sandwiches, Adriana also shines in quick tosses and light sauces where its supple leaves stay beautifully intact.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Butterhead Adriana

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
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)	35
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Butterhead Adriana is a spoonable, tender-leaf lettuce: it’s mild and sweet, with a center crunch that holds just long enough to make salads feel plush instead of watery. Use it for quick dressing/warm-wilt jobs where the leaves stay intact and silkier than a tougher Romaine type.

Best Uses

spoon-and-fork salads where leaves stay intact (no heavy shredding)
elegant sandwich layering that won’t tear—built for quick assembly
light, fast tosses with warm vinaigrette (briefly coated, not drowned)
gentle, quick wilt in a pan with butter or olive oil to keep it silky

Flavor Profile

mild, softly sweet lettuce flavor butter-silken tender leaves crisp-yet-delicate center crunch cool, lightly vegetal finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette Parmigiano-Reggiano chicken or turkey avocado balsamic vinegar olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

My Butterhead Adriana has pale, stippled leaves with fine webbing—what pest is this and how do I fix it?

This pattern is typical of spider mites. Rinse the undersides of leaves with a strong spray, then apply insecticidal soap (or horticultural oil) every 5–7 days for 2–3 rounds, covering leaf undersides. Keep the plants evenly moist (mitelogger stress worsens mites) and remove badly infested outer leaves to slow spread.

How often should I water Butterhead Adriana during the main growing phase to prevent loose heads?

From transplanting/early growth through head formation, water deeply 2–3 times per week so the soil stays evenly moist 1–2 inches down. If you squeeze a handful of soil and it crumbles rather than forms a soft ball, water immediately; if it feels soggy, cut back. Inconsistent moisture often causes bitter leaves and loose, underfilled butterhead heads.

When is Butterhead Adriana ready to harvest and how can I tell without overmaturing it?

Harvest at about 55 days when heads feel firm but still springy, with outer leaves fully expanded and no sign of bolting (flower stalks). Use the “lift and press” test: a gentle squeeze should hold together without hard, brittle firmness. Cut the head at the base in the morning for best texture; if you see the center elongating, harvest right away.