Optima

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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Sink your spoon into Optima’s tender heart: buttery, spoon-soft leaves unfurl in a calm, pale-green rosette with a delicately sweet, clean flavor.

At maturity (about 60 days), it forms a compact butterhead with a plush, velvety texture and crisp yet yielding bite—ideal for fresh salads and elegant platters, as well as quick tosses and light dressings that let its mild character shine.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Optima 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	May 25th	Jul 24th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 18th	Jul 17th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 7th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 7th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 12th	Jul 11th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 7th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 6th	Jul 5th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jun 30th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Apr 27th	Jun 26th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Apr 24th	Jun 23rd – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 18th	Jun 17th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 13th	Jun 12th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 3rd	Jun 2nd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Mar 25th	May 24th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 16th	May 15th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Feb 27th	Apr 28th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 2nd	Apr 3rd – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
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)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Optima’s butterhead soul is all about delicate sweetness and that plush, spoonable bite—dress it lightly so it stays crisp-yielding instead of turning watery. Choose bright acid (lemon/vinaigrettes) and creamy or salty partners to make its mild flavor snap on the palate.

Best Uses

cool, simple butterhead salads where the dressing coats rather than drowns the leaves
light tosses with a restrained vinaigrette or yogurt herb dressing
plated lettuce cups for crudo-style toppings (fish, citrusy prawns, or soft cheeses)
quick wilt-in minutes stir-ins to keep the leaves tender, not cooked to mush

Flavor Profile

buttery, spoon-soft leaf tenderness delicately sweet, clean sweetness crisp-yet-yielding bite that turns plush

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil aged Parmesan grilled shrimp herb yogurt (dill or chive) crème fraîche

Frequently Asked Questions

Lactuca sativa (lettuce) pest/disease: what if I see slimy spots or gray mold on leaves?

This can be gray mold (Botrytis), which shows up as gray, fuzzy growth on leaf tissue—often after overhead watering or during cool, humid weather. Remove affected leaves immediately, improve airflow around plants, and water the soil (not the leaves). If it keeps spreading, apply a label-approved fungicide for lettuce and rotate to a different mode of action next time.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during the main growing phase (around weeks 3–8)?

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged so leaves stay tender and don’t turn bitter—aim for roughly 1 inch of water per week, split into smaller waterings as needed. Water when the top 1 inch of soil starts to dry, and ensure good drainage because lettuce suffers when roots sit in soggy conditions.

How can I tell when Lactuca sativa is ready to harvest at about 60 days?

Harvest when heads (or leaf rosettes, if you’re growing loose-leaf types) reach their expected size and leaves feel crisp rather than limp. For the best flavor, pick in the morning when leaves are fully turgid, and avoid waiting until the plant bolts—once it starts sending up a flower stalk, bitterness increases quickly.