Deer Tongue

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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

Tender, deer-tongue–shaped leaves unfurl in a lush, buttery green, with a crisp snap and a gently sweet, fresh flavor that feels cool and clean from the garden.

Loose-leaf growth forms an airy rosette that stays pleasantly tender as it matures in about 55 days, making it ideal for repeated harvesting. Grow Deer Tongue for vibrant salads and bright, leaf-forward garnishes—its delicate texture shines in fresh bowls and quick tosses, and it also lends a mild, leafy character to sauces and pickling-style mixes.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Deer Tongue 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	Jun 1st	Jul 26th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 19th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 13th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 7th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Apr 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 5th – 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	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Deer Tongue’s tender rosette gives you a buttery crunch with a cool, clean sweetness—an “eat-it-first” lettuce that doesn’t need heavy sauce to taste alive. It holds up best with acidic vinaigrettes and bright fats (olive oil, lemon) so the leaves stay snappy instead of collapsing into wetness.

Best Uses

hero it in simple dressed salads where the leaves can stay crisp
use as a soft “bed” under warm proteins—its tenderness won’t fight a hot plate
fold into quick tosses and grain bowls for crunch
pickling-style mix-ins where it keeps a mild, leafy character

Flavor Profile

cool, gently sweet lettuce flavor buttery, tender leaf with a clean crisp snap lightly grassy, fresh-cut finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon extra-virgin olive oil goat cheese feta grilled chicken cucumber

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common disease or pest issue for Lactuca sativa (Deer Tongue), and how can I manage it at home?

Look for aphids and powdery mildew—aphids cluster on new leaves, while powdery mildew appears as a white, dusty coating on leaf surfaces. Spray a strong jet of water to knock off aphids, then use insecticidal soap if they persist, focusing on leaf undersides. For powdery mildew, water at the soil level and thin plants so air moves through the rosette, and remove badly infected leaves early to slow spread.

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

During the main growing phase, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for roughly 1 inch of water per week, split into smaller waterings if it’s hot or windy. Check by feel: if the soil is dry an inch down, water; if it stays soggy, reduce frequency to prevent rot and mildew.

How do I tell when Deer Tongue lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 55 days when the leaves form a full, firm rosette and the heads/leaves feel solid rather than loose. Pick leaves in the morning when they’re crisp, or cut the whole plant at ground level once it reaches the target size—overmature rosettes can turn more bitter and bolt faster in warm weather.