Gila

Family: Asteraceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Crisp, cool, and richly green from the first bite—Gila romaine forms a tall, elegant head with a tender, buttery texture and a satisfying crunch.

Its leaves hold their shape beautifully, offering a clean, refreshing flavor that shines in fresh salads and also stands up to quick tosses and hearty dressings. Grow Gila for a dependable 65-day harvest that brings garden-to-table freshness with every cutting.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 65 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Gila 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	Apr 27th	May 18th	Jul 22nd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 12th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 12th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 12th	Jul 16th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 12th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 6th	Jul 10th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jul 5th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Apr 27th	Jul 1st – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Apr 24th	Jun 28th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 18th	Jun 22nd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 13th	Jun 17th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 3rd	Jun 7th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Mar 25th	May 29th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 16th	May 20th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Feb 27th	May 3rd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 2nd	Apr 8th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	65
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)	28
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Gila romaine is built for the bite: tender-butter leaves that stay upright under thick dressings and don’t collapse into soggy chaos. Use it where crunch matters—wedge, Caesar, or chopped salads—then lean on acid (lemon/vinegar) and salty fats to sharpen its clean, green edge.

Best Uses

classic wedge salad with a thick blue-cheese dressing
romaine Caesar-style: quick massage for snap without wilting
hearty chopped salads where the leaves need to hold shape
grilled or toasted romaine with a charred-leaf sheen and juicy crunch

Flavor Profile

cool, clean green bitterness tender-buttery leaf texture crisp crunch with strong bite refreshing, lightly sweet finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon juice parmesan anchovy garlic olive oil crisp bacon

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on Lactuca sativa (leaf lettuce/Gila), and how can I manage it?

Watch for lettuce aphids and slugs/snails; aphids cluster on new growth and can stunt leaves, while slugs leave ragged holes at night. Spray aphids off with a strong jet of water or spot-treat with insecticidal soap, and reduce slug damage by hand-picking at dusk and using a copper barrier or slug bait formulated for vegetables. Also prevent mildew/rot by watering at the soil line and spacing plants so air moves through the canopy.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture target should I aim for?

During active leaf growth, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist—typically about 1 inch of water per week, adjusted for heat and wind. In hot stretches, check daily and water when the surface starts to dry, because lettuce rapidly turns bitter and can bolt if it repeatedly dries out.

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

Harvest at about 65 days when the leaves have reached full size for the variety and the outer leaves are thick and crisp. For a cut-and-come-again approach, pick outer leaves first and leave the center growing, but if the plant starts sending up a flower stalk, harvest immediately for best quality.