Saharan

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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

Crisp as fresh-cut snow, Saharan delivers a dense crisphead with a cool, clean crunch and a gently sweet, green flavor.

Its tightly layered leaves form a satisfying, spoonable texture—sturdy enough to hold its bite while staying tender at the core. Grow Saharan for standout salads and elegant platters, or for refreshing wraps and bright, leafy garnishes that stay crisp through serving.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Saharan 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	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	May 4th	May 25th	Aug 8th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 28th	May 19th	Aug 2nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 22nd	May 13th	Jul 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 13th	May 4th	Jul 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Apr 4th	Apr 25th	Jul 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 30th	Apr 20th	Jul 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 20th	Apr 10th	Jun 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 11th	Apr 1st	Jun 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Mar 2nd	Mar 23rd	Jun 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 13th	Mar 6th	May 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 19th	Feb 9th	Apr 25th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Saharan’s tightly layered crisphead holds its structure and bite, so it behaves beautifully in cold service—no watery surrender. The mildly sweet, clean green flavor loves sharp acid and fatty richness, making it ideal for wraps, wedges, and composed salads.

Best Uses

cold chopped salads where you want snap that doesn’t collapse
crisphead wedges with a simple vinaigrette for maximum bite
wrap and lettuce-cup service that stays structured through filling
elegant platter leaves for topping grilled proteins and sauces

Flavor Profile

cool, clean crunch gently sweet green flavor dense, spoonable leaf texture tender-at-the-core bite

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette extra-virgin olive oil grilled chicken feta cheese avocado croutons

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most often affects Lactuca sativa (iceberg-type lettuce) and how do I manage it?

Look for aphids and slugs/snails on iceberg lettuce, especially in warm, humid stretches. Spray aphids off with a strong stream of water and use insecticidal soap if they persist, and hand-pick slugs at dusk or set beer traps/diatomaceous barrier around plants. Also watch for downy mildew and botrytis (gray mold) in cool, damp weather—improve airflow by spacing heads properly and water at the soil line, not the leaves.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during the main growing phase (from transplanting until head set)?

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged while the plants are forming leaves and tightening into heads—typically about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, adjusted for heat and wind. Water deeply 1–2 times per week rather than daily misting, and aim for consistently damp soil 1–2 inches down. If the soil swings from dry to wet, iceberg lettuce is more likely to become bitter and develop loose or poorly formed heads.

How can I tell when Lactuca sativa (iceberg-type) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the head is firm and the leaves are tightly packed, usually around 70–80 days after sowing (about 75 days to maturity for your crop). Check by gently pressing the outside of the head—if it feels springy or loose, wait a few more days. Harvest in the morning when heads are coolest to reduce leaf wilting and maximize crispness.