Igloo

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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Cool, crisp crunch begins the moment you lift Igloo’s tight heads—lush, dense leaves unfurl in a pale green rosette with a clean, refreshing bite.

The texture is notably sturdy and glassy, holding its snap through harvest and keeping, while the flavor stays sweet and mild. Ideal for crisphead gardeners who want dependable, uniform heads at about 70 days, Igloo shines in fresh salads and bright, chilled presentations.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Igloo 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 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	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)	40
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Igloo’s tight, glassy leaves keep their snap longer than looser lettuces, so it rewards minimal dressing and cold service. Its sweet-mild profile is made for lemony, oily sauces and salty partners—so you get crunch first, flavor second, all the way through the last bite.

Best Uses

ice-cold crisphead salads where the leaves need to hold structure
wedges dressed lightly (think lemony vinaigrette) so they stay snappy
crunchy wraps and burgers where you want a firm leaf barrier that won’t go limp

Flavor Profile

sweet, mild lettuce flavor glassy, sturdy crunch clean, refreshing bite with light vegetal sweetness

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil parmesan chicken balsamic vinegar crusty bread

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease pest issue for Lactuca sativa (Iceberg-type lettuces) and how do I address it?

A frequent problem is downy mildew (often starting as yellow, water-soaked patches on lower leaves). Remove affected leaves immediately, improve airflow by spacing plants, and avoid wetting the foliage—water the soil at the base. If conditions stay cool and humid, consider using a labeled fungicide approved for lettuce and follow the label for reapplication intervals.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during peak growth, and what soil moisture level should I keep?

During the main growing phase, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist but not soggy to prevent bitterness and poor head development. In typical home gardens, this often means watering about 1–2 times per week, increasing to more frequent watering during dry spells or heat. Aim for deep, slow watering so moisture reaches the root zone, and stop short of waterlogging (which can trigger rot and mildew).

How can I tell when my Lactuca sativa (Iceberg-type) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads feel firm and compact and the inner leaves don’t easily spring loose when you gently squeeze the head. For most iceberg-type lettuces, this is around 70 days from sowing/transplanting, but use firmness as the final trigger rather than the calendar alone. Cut the head at the base early in the day for best crispness.