Winter Brown Lettuce
Best cold-hardy choice for home gardeners seeking reliable off-season harvests.
Discover the Winter Brown Lettuce, a robust butterhead variety perfect for challenging conditions. This heirloom, open-pollinated lettuce forms a smaller, loose head with unique reddish-brown tones. Historically favored, it matures in 50-55 days and is exceptionally cold-hardy, making it ideal for dual-season planting. For optimal flavor, ensure consistent moisture and cool temperatures. This variety benefits from minimal fertilizer and requires thinning for proper head development, offering a rewarding harvest for home gardeners.
$10.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
270
/ 6504
#270 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
+3%
Above average
Days to Maturity
5055
/ - days
Who it's for
- Cold-climate gardeners seeking fresh greens during winter months
- Gourmet cooks prioritizing superior taste and tender leaf texture
- Home gardeners wanting visually striking, colorful salad ingredients
Who should skip it
- Casual growers needing low-maintenance, flexible planting schedules
- Hungry families expecting high-volume, year-round salad production
- Gardeners looking for heat-tolerant lettuce varieties for summer harvests
Performance breakdown
Cold Hardiness
Exceptional resilience against frost makes this a standout for shoulder-season harvests.
Ease of Cultivation
Minimal fertilizer needs and straightforward thinning requirements simplify the growing process.
Maturity Speed
Rapid 50-55 day cycle allows for multiple quick successions throughout the year.
Genetic Reliability
Heirloom, open-pollinated seeds ensure consistent, predictable traits for every home gardener.
Disease Resistance
Robust genetics provide reliable protection against common lettuce-specific pathogens.
Planting Versatility
Adaptable for spring, fall, and winter sowing in diverse climate zones.
Key Specs
Days to Maturity
50-55 days
Botanical Name
Lactuca sativa
Seed Depth
1/8 inch
Seed Spacing
1 inch
Row Spacing
16–18 inches
Thinning Distance
10–16 inches
Minimum Germination Rate
80%
Seed Life
3 years
Features
- Cold-hardy for harsh weather
- Heirloom and open-pollinated genetics
- Forms a smaller, loose head
- Suitable for dual-season planting
- Resistant to common lettuce diseases
- Matures in 50-55 days
- Requires minimal fertilizer
- Easy to grow with thinning
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality and reliability of Winter Brown Lettuce. Gardeners report outstanding germination rates and appreciate how easily this variety establishes itself, even in cooler temperatures. The primary delight is the robust, sweet flavor that holds up well through the winter months, making it a highly valued addition for extending the harvest season. This lettuce performs exactly as advertised, offering dependable yields and superior taste, confirming its status as a must grow for cold weather production.
Know before you buy
Winter Brown is an heirloom variety specifically bred for its exceptional cold hardiness. It produces a smaller, loose head with distinct reddish-brown coloring and performs well in conditions that would stress more delicate lettuce types.
This variety is best suited for spring, fall, and winter planting. It thrives in cooler temperatures, so it may struggle or bolt prematurely if exposed to the intense heat of mid-summer.
While you should initially space seeds one inch apart, you must thin the seedlings to 10–16 inches apart once they are established. This spacing is essential for proper head development and airflow.
No, Winter Brown Lettuce actually performs best with minimal fertilizer. Over-fertilizing can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of the plant's natural hardiness and flavor.
These seeds have a shelf life of approximately three years when stored in a cool, dry, and dark environment. They maintain a minimum germination rate of 80%.
Yes, its smaller, loose-head growth habit makes it a great candidate for containers. Just ensure your pot is deep enough to accommodate the root system and provides adequate drainage.
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$11