Salanova Red Butter
Salanova Red Butter is a hybrid lettuce variety (Lactuca sativa 'Salanova Red Butter'). Harvest begins around day 50-55; seed germinates in 5-8 days. Set plants 6-8 inches apart. Grow in soil pH 6.0-7.0, zones 2-11, full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours). Plants reach 6-12 inches. It will crop in a container. Hybrid seed does not come true, so it has to be bought fresh each season rather than saved.

Sowing
Direct sow or transplant seedlings. Best grown in cool weather. Space properly for optimal multi-leaf development.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
- Water
- 1 inch per week, consistent moisture
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with high organic content
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 6-8 inches
- Height
- 6-12 inches
- Season
- Cool season
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Green with red-bronze edges
- Size
- 6-8 inches diameter
- Shape
- Compact head that separates into 16-20 individual leaves
- Flavour
- Sweet, buttery, and tender with mild complexity
In the kitchen
Premium salads, restaurant presentations, efficient meal prep, gourmet applications
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Aphids, thrips, leafminers, slugs
- Diseases
- Downy mildew, lettuce mosaic virus, bacterial leaf spot
- Resistance
- Bred for uniformity and bolt resistance. Good tipburn tolerance.
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | June – July | July – September |
| 2 | — | — | May – July | July – September |
| 3 | — | — | May – June | June – October |
| 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| 6 | — | — | April – May | May – November |
| 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| 8 | — | — | March – April | April – December |
| 9 | — | — | February – March | March – December |
| 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
| 11 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 12 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 13 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Protein (g)
- 0.742
- Fat (g)
- 0.0738
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 3.37
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 20.5
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.0401
- Calcium (mg)
- 14.2
- Iron (mg)
- 0.0332
- Magnesium (mg)
- 6.31
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 19.2
- Potassium (mg)
- 139
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.173
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Salanova Red Butter?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other lettuce with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Salanova Red Butter suits these too.
- Red Malabar Spinach 50 days
- Lollo Rosso 50 days
- Australian Yellow Leaf 50 days
- Red Leaf Lettuce 50 days
- Concept 50 days
- Lolla Rossa 50 days