Mayan Jaguar

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Unfurl Mayan Jaguar’s butterhead rosettes into the garden and savor their velvety, spoon-soft leaves—cool, sweet, and richly green with a subtly buttery finish.

At maturity in about 55 days, the heads form a dense, rounded cup with tender, crinkled texture that stays pleasantly crisp for harvest. Ideal for fresh salads and elegant leaf-forward platters, Mayan Jaguar brings a lush, garden-fresh sweetness to every bite.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 18th
Harvest Begins	Jun 12th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Mayan Jaguar’s butterhead softness turns dressing into a thin, creamy slick instead of a soggy mess, so you want it lightly coated and eaten promptly. Its mild sweetness and buttery finish make it an unusually elegant foil for salty, fatty proteins and sharp citrus.

Best Uses

butterhead lettuce leaves as the base for composed salads where dressing lightly clings
chopped tender-crisp salads that stay snappy for a short window
leaf-forward platters with rich proteins where the lettuce acts like an edible cushion
briefly dressed, warm-room-temperature tosses so it doesn’t go watery

Flavor Profile

cool sweet green taste spoon-soft, velvety leaf texture subtly buttery finish with mild bitterness

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette grilled chicken feta cheese goat cheese bacon fat (or pancetta) croutons

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common pest or disease problem for Lactuca sativa (butterhead lettuce) like Mayan Jaguar, and how do I manage it?

A frequent issue is aphids, especially on new growth, which can stunt leaves and leave sticky honeydew. Rinse plants with a strong spray of water and, if needed, spot-treat with insecticidal soap, coating the undersides of leaves. Keep spacing airy and avoid overhead irrigation late in the day to reduce fungal leaf spots and lettuce downy mildew risk.

How often should I water Mayan Jaguar lettuce during its main growing phase?

During active leaf production (roughly weeks 2–6 after germination), keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water about 1–2 times per week, or more often in part-sun heat, so the top 1 inch of soil stays consistently damp. If you see wilting in the afternoon, irrigate sooner rather than waiting—lettuce turns bitter when it dries out.

How can I tell when Mayan Jaguar lettuce is ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads are firm and well-formed for butterhead types and the outer leaves feel crisp rather than floppy (about 55 days from sowing to harvest). For the best flavor, harvest in the morning and cut at the base just above the soil line. If you wait until leaves are overly stretched or the plant starts to bolt, bitterness increases and texture becomes less tender.