Ballade

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Ballade to a garden.

Crisp as a fresh snowfall, Ballade crisphead lettuce forms a dense, tightly cupped head with a cool, clean crunch and a sweet, delicate finish.

Its leaves are tender yet sturdy, holding their crisp texture beautifully from garden to table, making it a standout for fresh salads and elegant garnishes. Grow Ballade for a classic, satisfying bite and a dependable 75-day path to a beautifully uniform head.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Ballade Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Aug 8th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Aug 2nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jul 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 25th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Ballade is a crisphead built for that satisfying snap—its leaves stay tender but hold shape, so your fork doesn’t meet soggy lettuce halfway through. Use it where you need a cold, clean crunch to contrast creamy or smoky flavors, not where it’ll be cooked to death.

Best Uses

ice-cold salad crunch where leaves must stay crisp
elegant wedge salads with bold, creamy dressings
burger and sandwich layering to keep structure (no wilting mush)
brief pickling for a restrained, snappy tang

Flavor Profile

cool, clean crunch gentle sweetness tender-yet-sturdy leaves delicate, lightly vegetal finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette blue cheese croutons smoked salmon bacon grilled chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Ballade plants getting curled leaves and tiny white flecks, and what should I do?

Ballade is often hit by thrips, which cause leaf curling, silvery scarring, and tiny pale specks. Remove the most damaged leaves, then spray with insecticidal soap or a neem-based product, thoroughly covering leaf undersides; repeat every 5–7 days for 3 rounds. Keep weeds down around the bed because they can host thrips and reduce airflow between plants.

How often should I water Ballade during the main growing phase (around weeks 3–7)?

During active growth, keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy—aim for the top 1 inch to stay slightly damp. In most home gardens that’s about 1 inch of water per week, split into 2–3 watering days, but adjust so water soaks in rather than running off. If leaves look wilted during the day yet recover overnight, water deeply; if the soil stays wet or plants stall, reduce frequency.

How can I tell when Ballade is ready to harvest at about 75 days?

Harvest when pods/heads reach the variety’s intended size and feel firm and full, not soft or hollow. For best eating quality, pick when the exterior color looks fully developed and the plant no longer seems to be “pushing” new growth. If you can press a produce unit gently and it springs back or shows no give, it’s typically at peak; if it dents easily, harvest that day.