Skyphos

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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Skyphos Batavian lettuce unfurls with a cool, crisp snap and a refreshingly sweet, green-forward flavor.

Its tender leaves form an airy, upright rosette with a lightly ruffled texture that stays pleasantly succulent from first harvest to repeat picking. Ideal for fresh salads and elegant leaf-forward platters, Skyphos brings a vivid, garden-fresh crunch to every bowl.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Skyphos 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 11th	Jun 1st	Jul 31st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	May 4th	May 25th	Jul 24th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 14th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 28th	May 19th	Jul 18th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 24th	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 22nd	May 13th	Jul 12th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 7th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 13th	May 4th	Jul 3rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jun 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Apr 4th	Apr 25th	Jun 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 30th	Apr 20th	Jun 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 20th	Apr 10th	Jun 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 11th	Apr 1st	May 31st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Mar 2nd	Mar 23rd	May 22nd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 13th	Mar 6th	May 5th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 19th	Feb 9th	Apr 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th

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)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Skyphos is a Batavian built for bite: sweet, juicy leaves that stay airy and upright instead of collapsing, so it behaves like a crunchy garnish you can actually eat a lot of. Use restrained, acidic dressings and it’ll keep its green sweetness rather than tasting washed out.

Best Uses

straight-up salad greens with minimal dressing so the sweetness stays clean
leaf-forward platter base for grilled proteins—its crunch holds through assembly
quick toss with vinaigrette and warm bacon fat to lightly lacquer without going limp
chopped for gyro-style wraps where it keeps bite

Flavor Profile

cool, crisp snap refreshingly sweet, green-forward flavor lightly ruffled tenderness with juicy succulence

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette Parmigiano-Reggiano extra-virgin olive oil bacon hard-boiled egg grilled chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common pest or disease for Lactuca sativa (lettuce) like Skyphos, and how do I manage it?

A frequent problem is aphids, which cluster on tender lettuce leaves and can leave sticky residue and stunt growth. Spray plants with a strong jet of water to knock aphids off, then apply insecticidal soap to the undersides of leaves. If you see signs of downy mildew (pale yellow patches with fuzzy growth under leaves), improve airflow, water only at soil level, and remove heavily affected leaves to slow spread.

How often should I water Lactuca sativa during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I maintain?

During the main growth phase, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for the top 1 inch to stay lightly damp. In typical home gardens this often means watering every 2–3 days, increasing to daily in hot, windy weather. If leaves start to wilt, lettuce is dry; if soil stays soggy or plants look limp despite wet soil, you’re likely overwatering.

How do I tell when Skyphos lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is ready to harvest?

Harvest around 60 days when heads/rosettes are firm and reach their expected size, with leaves that feel crisp rather than floppy. For best eating, cut in the morning after plants have fully hydrated, using a sharp knife to remove the outer leaves or the whole head depending on your growing form. If the center starts to elongate or the plant bolts (goes toward flowering), harvest immediately—flavor turns more bitter.