Nevada

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Crisp as cool morning air, Nevada forms a dense, upright Batavian head with a refreshing crunch and a clean, sweet-green flavor.

Its leaves are richly textured—deeply quilted and pleasantly tender—holding their shape beautifully for salads and bright, leafy platters. Grow Nevada for a steady harvest of sturdy, garden-fresh leaves that stay crisp and flavorful well into the season.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

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

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Apr 4th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Nevada’s Batavian head gives you a tightly packed, deeply textured crunch that stays upright in the bowl instead of collapsing. Use it for cold salads or slick it with a sharp lemon dressing—its sweet-green flavor and clean bite make it feel bright even when the rest of the meal is rich.

Best Uses

chopped head-salad where the leaves need to hold shape under vinaigrette
ice-cold batons in summer bowls for that snap
leafy platters with a creamy dressing that clings to the textured surface
quick blanch-and-shock sautéed greens when you want structure, not softness

Flavor Profile

cool, sweet-green flavor crisp, densely quilted crunch tender leaves with clean bite refreshing, not bitter finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette burrata goat cheese chicken breast olive oil toasted almonds

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem is most common on Lactuca sativa (lettuce) and how do I fix it?

Watch for lettuce downy mildew and aphids, which commonly show up in cool, damp weather or with poor airflow. For downy mildew, remove affected leaves immediately and avoid overhead watering; keep plants spaced and water only at the base. For aphids, blast them off with a strong jet of water, then apply insecticidal soap in the evening, repeating every 5–7 days until numbers drop.

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

During active leaf growth, keep soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for evenly damp soil down to about 2–3 inches. In full sun, this usually means watering about 1–2 times per week, increasing to 2–3 times per week during hot spells. If leaves start tasting bitter or bolting begins, it’s often from heat stress and irregular moisture, so water on a steady schedule.

How can I tell when Lactuca sativa is ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads (if you’re growing a heading type) feel firm and reach the expected size, typically around 55 days from sowing. For leaf lettuce, pick outer leaves when they’re large enough to eat—about finger- to palm-sized—without removing the growing center. Lettuce ready for harvest should be crisp and tender; if leaves become tough and plants suddenly bolt (flower stalk visible), harvest immediately.