Nancy

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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Nancy butterhead lettuce forms a lush, cloud-soft rosette with tender, buttery leaves that unfurl in pale green layers—sweet, mild, and beautifully delicate in flavor.

At maturity (about 60 days), the heads feel velvety and supple, with a gentle crunch that melts into a smooth, fresh bite. Ideal for gardeners who love a refined, spoonable salad base and elegant garnishes, Nancy shines in cool-season plantings and shines most when harvested young and crisp.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Nancy 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 4th	Jun 1st	Jul 31st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Jul 24th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 14th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 18th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jul 12th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 7th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jul 3rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jun 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jun 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jun 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	May 31st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	May 22nd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	May 5th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Apr 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Nancy butterhead is all about tender, velvety leaf texture—mild enough to take bright acid, but not so assertive it fights delicate proteins. Dress lightly and serve promptly: it keeps its soft snap for a short window, then becomes silky in the best, spoonable way.

Best Uses

spoonable composed salads where the leaves fold easily
light vinaigrettes or citrus-dressing salads that won’t overwhelm
cold, brief dressings for buffets—dress at the last second for max suppleness
elegant lettuce cups for seafood or chicken

Flavor Profile

sweet, mild butteriness velvety-leafy tenderness gentle crunch that melts into a clean fresh bite

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette goat cheese grilled shrimp prosciutto olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

Nancy lettuce (Lactuca sativa) — what pest or disease is most likely, and how do I control it?

A common problem is downy mildew (often appears as yellow patches on upper leaves with gray-purple growth underneath) and it spreads fast in cool, humid conditions. Remove and discard affected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and avoid wetting the foliage when watering. If it’s recurring, rotate beds and use a preventive copper-based fungicide labeled for lettuce at the first signs of spotting, following the product label exactly.

How often should I water Nancy lettuce during its main growing phase?

During the ~60-day growth period, keep soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for evenly damp soil about 1 inch (2–3 cm) down. In part sun and mild weather, this is often about 1 inch (2–3 cm) of water per week, split into 2–3 sessions if temperatures are higher. If lettuce dries out between waterings, it can turn bitter and become prone to bolting.

How can I tell when Nancy lettuce is ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads/leaf size match the package expectation and leaves feel firm, not limp, with good color (usually around 60 days). For loose-leaf types, you can “cut-and-come-again” by snipping outer leaves once they’re large enough while keeping the center growing. For best texture, harvest in the morning and stop before leaves get overly large or begin loosening into a bolting stem.