How to Grow Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces'
Wikimedia Commons
Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces'
Lactuca sativa var. capitata
vegetable'Reine des Glaces' is a classic French butterhead lettuce variety known for its delicate, frilly outer leaves with a tender, buttery heart. The name translates to 'Queen of Ice,' reflecting its crisp, cool texture and elegant appearance. This heirloom variety produces medium-sized heads with exceptional flavor and texture ideal for fresh salads.
When should you plant Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces' in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces'
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces'
Around Jun 11≈ 55 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces' dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-9; prefers cooler climates and is best grown in spring and fall
Sign up free to see if Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces' grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces' timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
7-10 daysTiny oval leaves emerge with delicate cotyledons. Plant is very fragile and vulnerable to damping off.
Keep soil moist and maintain consistent temperature around 60-65°F. Provide bright light to prevent leggy growth. Thin seedlings to 1-2 inches apart.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksTrue leaves develop and expand. Plant grows multiple rosette layers of increasingly larger leaves. Outer leaves are frilly and light green.
Maintain consistent moisture and cool temperatures (60-70°F ideal). Begin dilute liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks. Thin seedlings to spacing distance. Provide afternoon shade if temperatures exceed 75°F.
Head Formation
2-3 weeksCentral leaves begin to pale and curl inward, forming a loose head. The heart becomes increasingly compact with tender, buttery leaves.
Continue consistent watering without wetting the heart excessively. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to prevent excess leaf production. Watch for bolting in warm conditions.
Maturity
Ready to harvestHead is fully formed with characteristic pale, tender inner leaves and lacy outer leaves. Heart is compact but leaves remain soft and succulent.
Monitor for pests and diseases. Ensure consistent moisture. Harvest promptly once mature, as flavor and texture decline with extreme heat or continued growth.
Post-Harvest
Storage periodHead is cut and leaves begin to wilt if not stored properly. Texture and crispness deteriorate quickly at room temperature.
Harvest in early morning when temperatures are cool. Store immediately in refrigerator at 32-35°F in plastic bag or crisper drawer. Use within 1-2 weeks.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Spray with strong water stream; use neem oil or insecticidal soap; introduce ladybugs
-
and
Hand-pick, especially at night; create barriers with diatomaceous earth; use copper tape; encourage beneficial ground beetles
-
Apply reflective mulches; use yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil; avoid excess nitrogen fertilizer
-
Create cardboard collars around seedlings; use diatomaceous earth; remove debris; till soil before planting
-
Yellow sticky traps; insecticidal soap; neem oil; remove heavily infested leaves
Uses
Gourmet Salads & Fresh Eating
CulinaryThe tender, buttery leaves and delicate flavor make 'Reine des Glaces' perfect for fresh green salads, composed salads, and as a base for vinaigrettes. The distinctive frilly texture adds visual elegance to fine dining presentations. [source]
Salad Wraps & Appetizers
CulinaryIndividual outer leaves can be used as natural wraps for appetizers, crudités, or finger foods. The crisp texture holds fillings well without breaking, unlike more delicate lettuces. [source]
Nutritional & Wellness Benefits
MedicinalLettuce is rich in vitamins A, K, and folate, with compounds including lactucarium that may support relaxation and mild sedative properties historically used in herbal medicine. The high water content and low calorie profile make it valuable for weight management diets. [source]
Kitchen Preservation & Storage
HouseholdCan be blanched and frozen, though texture is best when used fresh. The large tender leaves store well in refrigeration and are ideal for meal prep salads that will be consumed within a few days. [source]
Beneficial Insect Habitat
WildlifeIf allowed to bolt, 'Reine des Glaces' produces delicate flowers attractive to pollinators and beneficial insects. The flowering stage provides nectar for bees and habitat structure for parasitoid wasps and other natural pest predators. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest in the early morning when leaves are cool and crisp for best texture. Cut the entire head at soil level with a sharp knife once the heart is fully formed and compact. Alternatively, harvest outer leaves individually while allowing the plant to continue growing. 'Reine des Glaces' is most tender when harvested before temperatures exceed 75°F; heat triggers bolting and bitterness. For best flavor, harvest within 2-3 days of peak maturity.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 'Reine des Glaces' is a French heirloom variety dating back to the 1800s, known and grown in European kitchen gardens for over 150 years for its exceptional quality and elegant appearance.
- 🌱 The name 'Queen of Ice' refers not only to the crisp, cool texture but also to historical European practices of storing lettuce in ice to maintain its color and texture during transport to markets.
- 🌱 Butterhead lettuces like 'Reine des Glaces' develop their characteristic pale, buttering heart through natural blanching as outer leaves shade the interior from light, concentrating sweetness and tenderness in the center.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces' planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces' seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Butterhead Lettuce 'Reine des Glaces' timeline →