Great Lakes

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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Crisp as fresh-cut glass, Great Lakes lettuce forms a dense, uniform head with a cool, sweet snap and a clean, refreshing bite.

The leaves are thick and sturdy—deep green to blue-green on the outside, pale and buttery within—holding their crunch beautifully in the garden and on the table. Ideal for crisp salads and elegant platters, Great Lakes is a crisphead favorite for gardeners who want dependable, head-forming performance at about 70 days.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Great Lakes 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	May 4th	May 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 28th	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 22nd	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 13th	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Apr 4th	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 30th	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 20th	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 11th	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Mar 2nd	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 13th	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 19th	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Great Lakes is engineered for that high-impact crunch—thick, sturdy leaves keep their bite even when dressed, so you can dress minutes ahead without turning it limp. I like it cold and slightly heavier on acid and salt (lemon, bacon, parmesan) to sharpen the sweet snap of the pale interior.

Best Uses

ice-cold wedge salads with thick-cut dressing
crunchy chopped salads where the leaves must hold up
lettuce cups for savory fillings (tightly leafed, won’t collapse)
layered platters—use it as the crunchy base under lighter sauces

Flavor Profile

cool, sweet lettuce bite crisp as fresh-cut glass buttery pale leaves with sturdy outer ribs clean, refreshing finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette bacon parmesan soft-boiled egg croutons creamy Caesar-style dressing

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on Lactuca sativa (iceberg-type lettuce) and how do I treat it?

Iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is especially prone to downy mildew (often seen as pale yellow patches on leaf tops with fuzzy gray-purple growth underneath). Improve airflow by spacing plants and water the soil (not the leaves), then remove badly infected leaves immediately to slow spread. If it keeps recurring, treat early with a labeled fungicide for downy mildew on edible greens, following the product’s waiting period before harvest.

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

During the 6–8 weeks before harvest, keep the soil consistently evenly moist—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, split into 2–3 smaller soakings if it’s hot or windy. Letting lettuce dry out causes bitterness and loose heads, while staying soggy encourages mildew; the goal is moist soil with good drainage. Test by pressing a finger into the soil: it should feel moist 1–2 inches down, not wet or bone-dry.

How can I tell when Great Lakes (Lactuca sativa) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads feel firm and reach about full size for your planting spacing; at 70 days from sowing or transplanting, timing typically lines up with head firmness. The outer leaves should be crisp and green, with no significant bolting (flowering stalk) starting in the center. Cut the head at the base with a sharp knife in the morning for best texture.