Sanguine Améliorée

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Sanguine Améliorée unfolds with a lush, butter-soft heart and a striking sanguine blush—crisp at the edges, tender through the center, and richly fresh in every leaf.

Expect a slow, steady build to a full, rounded head in about 50 days, with velvety texture that invites gentle handling and rewards with a mild, sweet flavor. Ideal for fresh salads and elegant leaf-forward platters, its color makes every bowl look garden-made and abundant.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Sanguine Améliorée

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

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 14th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	50
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Butterhead with a slow, tender payoff—this is for when you want lettuce to feel luxurious, not grassy. Dress it lightly and promptly: the mild sweetness and sanguine-tinted crunch hold up to citrus-leaning vinaigrettes and creamy cheeses without going limp.

Best Uses

cold salads where dressing clings to soft leaves
butterhead “leaf cups” for seafood or chicken salad
elegant platters—tear-and-stack for texture contrast
quick toss with warm vinaigrette that won’t wilt it into mush

Flavor Profile

butter-soft, velvety crunch at the edges mild, sweet lettuce flavor gentle freshness with no sharp bitterness tender leaf that tears cleanly but doesn’t collapse

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil balsamic vinegar grilled salmon goat cheese toasted walnuts

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage downy mildew or leaf spot on Lactuca sativa (Sanguine Améliorée) at home?

Lactuca sativa commonly gets downy mildew and foliar leaf spots when leaves stay wet; water early in the day and keep water off the foliage. If you see yellowing patches with fuzzy growth on leaf undersides or dark spots spreading, remove affected leaves immediately and increase airflow by spacing plants and thinning as they develop. Use a protective fungicide labeled for lettuce leaf diseases (follow label rates) as soon as symptoms first appear to stop spread.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during the main growth phase to avoid bitterness or bolting?

During the ~50-day growth period, keep the soil consistently evenly moist (not soggy) so lettuce doesn’t stress—aim for watering when the top 1 inch of soil starts to dry. In warm part-sun conditions, this often means about 1–2 waterings per week, but adjust to rainfall and your soil; sandy soils dry faster. Avoid letting plants swing between dry and wet, which can drive bitterness and speed up bolting.

When is Sanguine Améliorée ready to harvest, and how do I tell?

Harvest around 50 days from sowing when heads are firm (or for leaf types, when outer leaves are fully expanded and crisp). Look for leaves that reach their full size and have strong color, with minimal inner stretching; if the center starts to elongate, quality drops. For best flavor, cut early in the day and harvest before the plant bolts (flower stalk begins to form).