Topic: Butterhead Lettuces

[hopalong]

I'd welcome views and advice from people who grow these. I planted out these lettuces at the end of October and grew them on under a cloche over winter. Never tried growing them before. They seem to have done quite well but the outer leaves are leathery and look inedible. Can I expect a softer, crisper more edible core to develop as the weather warms up?

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[Barnowl]

Good looking lettuce there, hopalong.

We've just 3 or 4 similar (i.e. not as good) and I too would like to know the answer.

[GodfreyRob]

...the outer leaves are leathery and look inedible. Can I expect a softer, crisper more edible core to develop as the weather warms up?

New growth will be softer but after a while (depending on the weather) the middles may start to push upwards - the first sign of them going to seed. When they go to seed some varieties start to become bitter.
So pick the new growth but before the middles start to rise up too much as they won't get much bigger/softer after that.