Also known as ‘Reine de Mai’, this is a wonderful 19th Century heirloom. It’s a quick-maturing butterhead (for those, like the writer who wasn’t quite sure what exactly butterheads were, they are characterised by small, round heads with loosely packed leaves that are soft and tender with a buttery texture and flavour and a delicate cream-coloured heart). The pale green heads are tinged with red and the sweet, pale yellow hearts are blushed with rouge-pink