Tom Thumb Butterhead Lettuce is a time-tested English heirloom that fits neatly into containers and small garden spaces. Its compact heads have tender leaves and a mild, pleasant flavor for fresh salads and light meals. Maturing in approximately 60 days, this variety lends itself to successive small sowings for a longer harvest season. Each packet contains 1,000 non-GMO heirloom seeds.

Germination Rate: 97%. Test Date: 12/25. TLM.

Texas Minimum Germination Rate: 80%

Why Choose Tom Thumb Lettuce?

• Compact Heads: Small plants suit containers, raised beds and gardens with limited space.
• Tender, Mild Leaves: Enjoy freshly harvested lettuce in salads, sandwiches and light dishes.
• Approximately 60 Days: Plan cool-season harvests while allowing for differences in weather and growing conditions.
• Succession Planting: Sow small batches at intervals rather than the entire packet at once.
• Heirloom and Open-Pollinated: A traditional variety suitable for seed saving with proper isolation and seed-production care.
• Non-GMO: A choice for gardeners seeking non-GMO vegetable seeds.

Planting Tips for Success

• Season: Sow for spring and fall harvests, adjusting planting dates to local temperatures and frost dates.
• Sunlight: Choose full sun in cool weather. Light afternoon shade can help as temperatures rise.
• Soil: Use fertile, well-drained soil enriched with finished compost.
• Sowing: Sow shallowly, about ⅛ inch deep, and keep the surface consistently moist until seedlings establish.
• Spacing: Thin plants to about 6 inches apart, allowing room for each compact head to develop.
• Containers: Choose pots with drainage holes and enough soil volume to maintain steady moisture.
• Watering: Water regularly without waterlogging. Avoid drying cycles that stress plants and reduce leaf quality.
• Fertilizing: Follow soil-test guidance and fertilizer label directions for moderate feeding during active growth.
• Support and Care: Staking is unnecessary. Weed gently and watch for aphids, slugs and snails.
• Harvesting: Harvest heads at your preferred size, around 60 days under suitable conditions. Pick in the cool morning and harvest before bolting for best quality.

Why Choose David's Garden Seeds®?

• Veteran-Owned: Supplying premium seeds since 2009.
• GO TEXAN Certified: Supporting local agriculture and communities.
• Integrity Pledge: David's Garden Seeds has taken the Seed Integrity Pledge.
• Vegetable Seed License: David's Garden Seeds has been granted a Vegetable Seed License for the State of Texas.

Cooking Methods

• Fresh Salads: Wash and dry harvested leaves, then serve with a light dressing.
• Individual Head Salads: Halve cleaned compact heads for small composed salads.
• Sandwiches: Add tender leaves for fresh garden flavor.
• Lettuce Cups: Use suitable leaves for small portions of cooked vegetables, beans or other fillings.
• Gentle Wilting: Briefly wilt leaves with a warm dressing, avoiding prolonged cooking.

Order Tom Thumb Lettuce Seeds Today

Grow compact, tender butterhead lettuce for fresh meals, containers and small-space gardens.

Nutritional Information

• Harvested Produce Only: Nutrition applies to edible harvested lettuce, not planting seeds.
• Analysis Not Provided: A verified nutrient breakdown for Tom Thumb lettuce is not available in the current listing.

No variety-specific nutrient amounts or % Daily Value figures are stated without a confirmed reference.

Important Disclosures

• Variety Disclaimer: Head size, flavor, texture and maturity vary with climate, soil, spacing and care.
• Seed Storage: Keep seeds cool, dry and away from heat, moisture and sunlight. Reseal opened packets.
• Planting Zones: Grow as a cool-season annual. Follow local frost dates and seasonal temperatures, especially in hot climates.

Grow something beautiful. Grow something delicious. Grow with David's Garden Seeds®.

Tom Thumb Mini-Head Salad with Lemon-Herb Dressing

Showcase harvested Tom Thumb lettuce by serving its little heads halved and topped with garden vegetables. This recipe uses harvested produce, not planting seeds.

Serves: 4 as a side. Prep: 15 minutes. Cooking: None.

Ingredients

• 4 small harvested Tom Thumb lettuce heads
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ cup thinly sliced radishes
• ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese, optional
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Wash hands. Remove damaged outer leaves and trim dirty stem ends. Halve each lettuce head lengthwise and rinse carefully between the layers under running water. Do not use soap on produce.
2. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with clean towels. If dirt remains trapped in a head, separate the leaves, rinse individually and serve as a loose salad.
3. Rinse tomatoes, radishes and parsley. Halve the tomatoes and slice the radishes.
4. Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper.
5. Arrange two lettuce halves on each plate. Scatter tomatoes, radishes and optional feta over the top.
6. Drizzle lightly with dressing just before serving.

Options: Omit feta for a dairy-free salad, or add cooked chickpeas for a heartier version. Tear the lettuce instead of halving if preferred.

Storage: Refrigerate prepared vegetables promptly and within 2 hours. Store dressing separately and use prepared lettuce within 1–2 days for best quality. Dressed salad is best enjoyed immediately.

Growing a Doomsday Garden by David Schulze