Side by side
Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.
Comparing Butterhead Lettuce vs. Oakleaf Lettuce
The comparison
| Fact | | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Germination time | 7–10 days | 7–10 days |
| Germination temperature | 16–20 °C61–68 °F | 13–18 °C55–64 °F |
| Sowing depth | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in |
| Spacing between plants | Not yet verified | 10–20 cm4–8 in |
| Days to maturity | Not yet verified | 50–60 days from sowing |
| Sun | Full sun, partial shade | Full sun, partial shade |
| Water | Moderate | Moderate |
| Containers | Yes | Yes, 1.9 L or largerYes, 2 qt or larger |
| Frost tolerance | Half-hardy (light frost) | Half-hardy (light frost) |
| Soil pH | pH 6.0–6.5 | pH 6.0–6.7 |
| Links |
Up close
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
VegetablesLactuca sativa var. capitata
Butterhead lettuce, also called Bibb or Boston lettuce, is a loose-headed cool-season salad green that is fairly easy to grow from seed in full sun or partial shade.
How to grow butterhead lettuceVegetablesLactuca sativa var. crispa
Oakleaf lettuce is a cool-season vegetable with deeply indented, oak-shaped leaves that is one of the easiest vegetables to grow from seed in spring or fall.
How to grow oakleaf lettuceKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
Butterhead Lettuce vs. Oakleaf Lettuce vs. Acorn SquashAdd acorn squash as a third
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Butterhead Lettuce vs. Oakleaf Lettuce vs. ArtichokeAdd artichoke as a thirdButterhead Lettuce vs. Acorn SquashButterhead Lettuce against another vegetableOakleaf Lettuce vs. Acorn SquashOakleaf Lettuce against another vegetableButterhead Lettuce vs. Armenian CucumberButterhead Lettuce against another vegetableThe table, row by row
Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.
