Bambi

Family: Asteraceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Crisp as a cool morning breeze, Bambi Mini Romaine forms compact heads with a tender, sweet crunch and a clean, buttery bite.

The leaves are upright and neatly layered, offering a fresh, delicate texture that stays pleasantly crisp for days in the garden and beyond. Grow Bambi for standout mini romaine salads and elegant, garden-fresh bowls—perfect when you want a smaller head with big flavor.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Bambi 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	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 14th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 18th	Jul 7th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 27th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 27th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 12th	Jul 1st – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 27th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 6th	Jun 25th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 20th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	Apr 27th	Jun 16th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	Apr 24th	Jun 13th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 18th	Jun 7th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 13th	Jun 2nd – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 3rd	May 23rd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Mar 25th	May 14th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 16th	May 5th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Feb 27th	Apr 18th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 2nd	Mar 24th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	50
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Bambi’s compact heads and sweet, low-bitter crunch make it a lettuce you can actually *taste*—it doesn’t collapse into soggy shreds like softer leaf types. Dress lightly with lemon and oil (or a quick balsamic finish) and it’ll stay snappy even when you build a bowl with hot proteins.

Best Uses

mini romaine salads that need bite under vinaigrette
quick char-free bowls with warm proteins (the leaves stay crisp)
sandwiches/wraps for structural crunch without watering down
simple olive-oil and lemon dressing to show the sweet leaf

Flavor Profile

tender sweet crunch clean, cool lettuce bitterness (low) buttery-sweet leaf finish upright layers that hold texture

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil parmesan garlic chicken (or grilled shrimp) balsamic vinegar

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my Bambi plants get powdery mildew?

Powdery mildew shows up as a white, dusty coating on Bambi leaves, often in warm, humid weather or when plants are crowded. Remove heavily affected leaves, space plants for airflow, and water at the soil line (not over the foliage). If it keeps spreading, spray with a labeled horticultural fungicide and reapply according to the label every 5–7 days until new growth is clean.

How often should I water Bambi during the main growing phase?

During the 50-day grow-out, keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for damp, well-drained soil about 1 inch down. Water about 2–3 times per week in part-sun beds, increasing to more frequent watering during hot spells, and reduce once leaves are nearing full size to avoid rot. If you can press the soil and it holds together then crumbles easily, you’re in the right moisture range for Bambi.

How can I tell when Bambi is ready to harvest?

Harvest Bambi at about 50 days from sowing when plants have reached full size and the edible parts are firm and fully colored for the variety. If you can feel the mature heads/pods are filled out and the texture looks crisp (not soft or watery), start harvesting. Don’t wait for over-maturity—quality drops quickly once the crop starts to look dull or begins to soften.