Olga

Family: Asteraceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Silky, tender leaves unfurl with a cool, fresh crunch—Olga lettuce forms a lush rosette that feels almost velvet to the touch.

Its flavor is delicately sweet with a bright, green snap, making it a standout for crisp salads and elegant garnishes. Grow Olga for dependable, 50-day maturity and a beautifully uniform head that stays attractive from garden to table.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Olga 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 4th	Jun 1st	Jul 21st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Jul 14th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 4th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 4th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 8th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 4th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jul 2nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jun 27th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jun 23rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jun 20th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jun 14th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 9th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	May 30th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	May 21st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	May 12th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	Apr 25th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	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	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Olga’s silkiness plus a clean green snap makes it ideal for restraint: dress it lightly so the leaves stay cool, crisp, and visually pristine. This is the lettuce you put on the plate when you want freshness to feel luxurious, not washed out.

Best Uses

cold, crisp salads where the leaves should stay airy and un-wilted
elegant garnishes on composed plates (they hold a neat, uniform rosette look)
lightly dressed lettuce with minimal interference—lemon, salt, and a whisper of oil

Flavor Profile

silky-tender leaves delicately sweet bright green snap

Kitchen Pairings

lemon extra-virgin olive oil creamy feta shaved parmesan grilled chicken champagne vinaigrette

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Lactuca sativa (lettuce) like ‘Olga’, and how can I control it?

Lettuce most often suffers from downy mildew (Peronospora) and powdery mildew, which show up as gray-purple fuzzy growth or pale powdery patches on leaves, especially when leaves stay wet. Remove and discard affected plants, improve airflow, and water at soil level (not onto the foliage). If problems persist, use an appropriate labeled fungicide for lettuce and mildew, applied per label directions.

During the 50-day growing period, how often should I water Lactuca sativa, and what soil moisture level should I maintain?

Keep soil consistently evenly moist for lettuce—don’t let it dry out between waterings, because Lactuca sativa quickly becomes bitter and can bolt. In active growth, aim for roughly 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week total, adjusting for heat and soil type, and water when the top 1 inch (2–3 cm) feels dry. Ensure good drainage so roots don’t sit in waterlogged soil.

How do I know when ‘Olga’ (Lactuca sativa) is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 50 days from sowing when heads are firm and compact for the variety type, with outer leaves fully expanded and crisp. For best quality, pick in the morning and harvest before the center starts to loosen or stretch upward (early bolting). If you can squeeze the head and it feels tight, it’s ready; if it feels soft, wait a few days and recheck.