Lactuca sativa

Available for purchase from 1 July 2025  

Green Mantilia lettuce is a beloved butterhead variety, prized for its soft texture and excellent field performance. Originally shared through the Seed Savers Exchange and later popularised by market gardeners in the Pacific Northwest, this bright emerald green beauty has developed a loyal following among growers and chefs. Its lush, rounded heads form dense centres surrounded by tender, cupped leaves that shimmer with freshness and hold their shape even in warm weather.

In the kitchen, Green Mantilia is celebrated for its sweet, mild flavour and silky bite. It is a staple in summer salads and sandwiches, where its delicate texture shines without overpowering other ingredients. The compact heads are easy to harvest whole, or you can pick individual outer leaves over time for extended yields.

Start Green Mantilia seeds indoors in trays filled with a fine seedling mix, sowing them on the surface and covering lightly with vermiculite. Ideal germination temperatures are between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. Ensure consistent moisture and provide bright light to prevent seedlings from stretching. Germination typically occurs within 7 to 14 days.

Transplant seedlings into rich, well-drained soil once they have developed 3 to 4 true leaves. Space plants 20 to 25 centimetres apart in rows 30 centimetres apart. Green Mantilia prefers full sun in cooler months and benefits from light shade in the heat of summer. Keep the soil evenly moist and mulch well to retain moisture. Harvest begins about 55 to 65 days from sowing, when heads feel firm to the touch or leaves are full and glossy.

Standard packet contains approx. 300 seeds

Petite packet contains approx. 100 seeds