Merlot

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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

Sink into the velvety, wine-dark allure of Merlot lettuce—tender leaves with a deep burgundy sheen and a crisp, succulent bite.

Its loose-leaf form builds a lush rosette of gently ruffled foliage, offering a refreshing, mildly sweet flavor that stays pleasantly crisp as it grows. Ideal for fresh salads and vibrant garnishes, Merlot also shines in quick tosses and leafy blends where color and texture matter most.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Merlot 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	May 11th	Jun 1st	Jul 21st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	May 4th	May 25th	Jul 14th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 4th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 4th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 28th	May 19th	Jul 8th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 4th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 22nd	May 13th	Jul 2nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jun 27th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 13th	May 4th	Jun 23rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jun 20th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Apr 4th	Apr 25th	Jun 14th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 30th	Apr 20th	Jun 9th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 20th	Apr 10th	May 30th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 11th	Apr 1st	May 21st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Mar 2nd	Mar 23rd	May 12th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 13th	Mar 6th	Apr 25th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 19th	Feb 9th	Mar 31st – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	50
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Merlot loose-leaf lettuce is built for eating cool: its juicy, ruffled leaves stay snappy under light dressing, and the burgundy sheen makes even a simple bowl look dressed for a date. Keep it mostly raw—dress just before serving so it doesn’t slide into limp.

Best Uses

cold tossed salads where it must hold crunch
leafy blends with contrasting textures for color (piled high, lightly dressed)
quick, no-cook garnish for sandwiches and grain bowls
briefly wilted tosses in warm vinaigrettes (low heat, fast)

Flavor Profile

mildly sweet, leafy bitterness crisp, succulent crunch gently grassy finish tender, ruffled bite with a juicy snap

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette goat cheese balsamic vinegar extra-virgin olive oil toasted walnuts chicken or shrimp

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Lactuca sativa (Merlot lettuce), and how can I manage it?

Watch for downy mildew and leaf-spot diseases, which show up as yellow patches or dark spots that spread during cool, humid weather. Improve airflow with wider spacing, water at the base early in the day, and remove any infected outer leaves immediately. If problems persist, use a copper-based fungicide labeled for lettuce, following the label rate and reapplication interval.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during its main growing phase to keep leaves crisp?

During the ~50-day growth period, keep the soil consistently evenly moist, not soggy—aim for a wet-but-drained bed with topsoil just slightly drying between waterings. In warm conditions, that’s often about 1 inch per week total (split into 2–3 waterings) while temperatures are high, then taper as weather cools. If leaves start tasting bitter or bolting begins, reduce drought stress quickly by maintaining steady moisture.

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

Harvest when heads/rosettes reach their typical size for your planting density and the leaves feel firm, not limp. Look for mature leaf thickness and a tight, well-formed center, typically around 50 days from sowing for this cultivar group. Cut in the morning and harvest before the plant sends up a flowering stalk (bolting), which makes leaves turn bitter.