Cervina RZ

Family: Asteraceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Cervina RZ unfolds into crisp, upright mini romaine hearts with a cool, fresh crunch and a gently sweet, leafy flavor.

The leaves form a tight, columnar silhouette—deep green on the outside with a tender, paler center—so each harvest delivers satisfying texture for fresh use and quick tosses, as well as sturdy leaves that shine in salads and wraps. At about 55 days, this dependable variety rewards home gardeners with uniform heads and a clean, garden-fresh bite.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Cervina RZ 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)	65
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Cervina RZ is built for clean, cold crunch: its upright mini romaine hearts keep their bite and sweetness even when dressed lightly or folded into wraps. Use it as the structural leaf—so every forkful stays crisp rather than turning watery.

Best Uses

icebox-crisp salads where the leaf holds dressing without going limp
mini romaine wraps—folding into handhelds that stay crunchy
quick tosses with vinaigrette and warm proteins
shredded for a tight texture in grain bowls

Flavor Profile

cool, fresh crunch gently sweet leafy flavor tender pale-center bite clean, lightly green finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon extra-virgin olive oil Parmigiano-Reggiano garlic grilled chicken anchovy

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Lactuca sativa (leaf lettuce), and how can I control it?

Leaf lettuce commonly suffers from downy mildew (often shows as yellow patches on top with fuzzy growth underneath) and from aphids that cluster on tender new leaves. Remove the most infected leaves immediately and increase airflow by spacing plants so leaves don’t stay wet; water at the soil line rather than over the foliage. If you see aphids, blast them off with a strong jet of water and repeat after 2–3 days, then check under leaves regularly to catch new colonies early.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during the main growing phase?

During active leaf growth, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently lightly moist—typically water about 2–3 times per week depending on heat and container size. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is sensitive to swings: if it dries out, it can slow growth and become more prone to bitterness and bolting. In warmer part-sun conditions, check daily and water when the soil surface starts to dry, not when it’s fully bone-dry.

How do I tell when Lactuca sativa is ready to harvest?

Harvest leaf lettuce when outer leaves are large enough to pinch off but before the plant becomes tall and loose—most heads/leaf clusters are ready around 55 days from sowing. Use a “leaf-size” rule: pick outer leaves that are tender and reach your desired size, while leaving the center to regrow. If you notice the plant starting to bolt (stretching upward and sending up flower stalks), harvest immediately or you’ll get tougher, more bitter leaves.