Bibb

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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

Sink your spoon into Bibb’s velvety, butter-soft leaves—tender, sweet, and delicately nutty with a fresh, clean snap.

Forming compact, spoon-shaped heads in about 55 days, this butterhead lettuce delivers a lush, pale-green heart cradled by gently cupped outer leaves. Ideal for fresh salads and elegant platters, Bibb shines when you want a tender texture that stays crisp and inviting from garden to table.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Bibb 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	May 4th	May 25th	Jul 19th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 18th	Jul 12th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 12th	Jul 6th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 6th	Jun 30th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jun 25th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Apr 27th	Jun 21st – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Apr 24th	Jun 18th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 18th	Jun 12th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 13th	Jun 7th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 3rd	May 28th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Mar 25th	May 19th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 16th	May 10th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Feb 27th	Apr 23rd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 2nd	Mar 29th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Bibb’s butterhead structure is tender enough to feel luxurious, but it still holds a bright, watery snap—so dress it lightly and early, and let it stay the star. Use it where you want sweetness and a spoonable mouthfeel rather than sharp, leafy bitterness.

Best Uses

cold, dressed salads where the leaves need to stay supple (no heavy chopping)
elegant lettuce cups for light fillings and quick assembly
quick-grilled or seared lettuce wedges for short char plus juicy crunch

Flavor Profile

butter-soft tenderness sweet, clean, gently nutty bite fresh, high-water crisp snap

Kitchen Pairings

lemon extra-virgin olive oil grated Parmigiano-Reggiano fresh herbs (chive or tarragon) crusty sourdough croutons grilled shrimp or roast chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

My Bibb lettuce is developing pale, silvery patches and tiny black specks—could this be thrips, and what should I do?

Yes, thrips commonly cause silvery scarring and specks on lettuce leaves. Rinse plants with a strong spray of cool water, then apply insecticidal soap (especially under leaves) in the early morning and repeat every 5–7 days for at least 2 rounds. Remove badly infested leaves and keep weeds down, since thrips build up on nearby hosts.

How often should I water Bibb lettuce during the main growing phase?

During the main growth period, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 inch of water per week, split into 2–3 sessions if it’s hot or windy. Check by pushing a finger 1 inch into the soil: if it feels dry at that depth, water; if it stays cool and damp, hold off. Uneven moisture leads to bitter leaves and can trigger early bolting in Bibb.

When is Bibb lettuce ready to harvest, and how do I know?

Harvest when heads feel firm and leaves are full-sized—typically around 55 days from sowing for Bibb. Look for a compact, smooth head with outer leaves that are about 4–6 inches long; avoid waiting until leaves get loose or overly tall. For the best flavor, cut at the base early in the morning and chill right away.