Boston Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Most lettuces bolt when summer temperatures begin to rise. Once the plant sends up its seed stalk, the plant will produce small clusters of flowers. These flowers contain the plant's pollen and will eventually produce a puffball full of seeds. Wait until most of the seed heads look ready to harvest, remove the entire flower stalk, and shake it over a bucket or bag to dislodge any fully ripened seeds. After harvesting the seeds, go through them and remove the fluff and chaff to isolate the seeds: pour your seed onto a shallow dish or tray and gently run a fan nearby. Once you remove the chaff, place your seeds in a clean, dry plastic food storage bag or mason jar, seal it, label it, and store it in a cool, dry place. Lettuce seeds are particularly durable and, if stored correctly, can last as long as five years.